Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment for Social Deficits in Children With Autism
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by core deficits in social
behavior and communication, and the presence of repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. It is
one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum which affects an estimated 1 in 88
children in the United States. At present, pharmacotherapies target only associated features
of autism, with no effective drug treatments for the social impairments. Several lines of
evidence now suggest that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) may be an effective treatment for
the core social deficits in autism. Here we will test the effects of twice daily intranasal
OT (24 IU) over a 4-week period for enhancing social deficits in male and female children
aged 6-12 years with autism. This research has high potential to lead to the development of
more effective treatments and earlier interventions for children with autism.