Intranasal oxytocin in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders: A multilevel meta-analysis
Abstract
Intranasal oxytocin has been shown to promote social functioning and has recently been applied as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The current meta-analysis aims to assess the crucial question of oxytocin's efficacy in the treatment of ASD. We performed a systematic literature search, including randomized, single- or double-blind/open-label and placebo-controlled clinical trials as well as single-arm, non-randomized and uncontrolled studies investigating exogenous oxytocin effect on ASD. A total of 28 studies (N = 726 ASD patients) met our predefined inclusion criteria. We used a multilevel meta-analytic model and found that oxytocin had beneficial effects on social functioning, but did not find strong evidence for symptoms improvement in the non-social domain. Our findings suggest that oxytocin administration can be regarded as an effective treatment for some core aspects of ASD, especially in the domain of social functioning, highlighting the promise of using oxytocin as a new-generation therapeutic to address core social impairments in ASD.
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The effects of OXT in ASD are likely modulated by age, gender, and possibly genetic factors.
“It is also likely that the effects of OXT in ASD are modulated by age, gender, and possibly genetic factors [77, 79, 90].”
From An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (2022) · cites this paper as [90]
A recent meta-analysis suggests overall beneficial effects of OXT on social symptoms of ASD, although it included both children and adults.
“Nonetheless, as illustrated by a recent meta-analysis, there does seem to be overall beneficial effects of OXT on social symptoms of ASD, although this review included both children and adults [90].”
From An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (2022) · cites this paper as [90]
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“In addition to the database search, studies were also identified through previous meta-analyses (Wang et al., 2019; Ooi et al., 2016; Huang et al., 2021; Keech et al., 2018; Leppanen et al., 2017) and by examining the reference lists of included articles.”
Possible oxytocin-related biomarkers in anxiety and mood disorders
Yoon, S., & Kim, Y. (2022) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110531 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
SCGN deficiency is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder
Liu, Z., Tan, S., Zhou, L., Chen, L., Liu, M., Wang, W., Tang, Y., Yang, Q., Chi, S., Jiang, P., et al. (2023) · Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · doi:10.1038/s41392-022-01225-2 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Neuroimaging and behavioral evidence of sex-specific effects of oxytocin on human sociality
Procyshyn, T. L., Dupertuys, J., & Bartz, J. A. (2024) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2024.06.010 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
A bibliometrics analysis and visualization of autism spectrum disorder
Rong, P., Fu, Q., Zhang, X., Liu, H., Zhao, S., Song, X., Gao, P., & Ma, R. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.884600 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
The Oxytocin System and Implications for Oxytocin Deficiency in Hypothalamic-Pituitary Disease
Aulinas, A., & Lawson, E. A. (2025) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/endrev/bnaf008 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Leithead, A. B., Tasker, J. G., & Harony‐Nicolas, H. (2021) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.13061 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Oral Administration of Oxytocin, Like Intranasal Administration, Decreases Top-Down Social Attention
Zhuang, Q., Zheng, X., Yao, S., Zhao, W., Becker, B., Xu, X., & Kendrick, K. M. (2022) · The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyac059 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
“, 2020, 2021) and autistic individuals (Guastella et al., 2010; Yamasue et al., 2020; Huang et al., 2021).”
Barton, S., Zovko, A., Müller, C., Krabichler, Q., Schulze, J., Wagner, S., Grinevich, V., Shamay‐Tsoory, S., & Hurlemann, R. (2024) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105734 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“…disease (Cacioppo et al., 2010; Herrman et al., 2022; Gomboc et al., 2022; Goossens et al., 2015; Grinevich and Stoop, 2018; Holwerda et al., 2014; Huang et al., 2021; Luhmann et al., 2023; Marks and Nesse, 2013; McGuinness et al., 2022; Melis and Ros-sano, 2022; Oettl et al., 2016; Plotnik et…”
Current and future directions of drug delivery for the treatment of mental illnesses
Brewster, P. R., Bari, S. M. I., Walker, G. M., & Werfel, T. A. (2023) · Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.addr.2023.114824 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Moerkerke, M., Daniëls, N., der Donck, S. V., Tibermont, L., Tang, T., Debbaut, E., Bamps, A., Prinsen, J., Steyaert, J. G., Alaerts, K., et al. (2023) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.13850 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Okumura, T., Nozu, T., Ishioh, M., Igarashi, S., Funayama, T., Kumei, S., & Ohhira, M. (2022) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113914 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
The dopamine hypothesis of autism spectrum disorder: A comprehensive analysis of the evidence
Pavăl, D. (2023) · International review of neurobiology · doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2023.08.009 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Dysfunctions of brain oxytocin signaling: Implications for poor mothering
Sanson, A., & Bosch, O. J. (2022) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109049 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Fathabadipour, S., Mohammadi, Z., Roshani, F., Goharbakhsh, N., Alizadeh, H., Palizgar, F., Cumming, P. D., Michel, T. M., & Vafaee, M. S. (2022) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.06.033 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Carson, K. E., Alvarez, J., Mackley, J., Travagli, R. A., & Browning, K. N. (2023) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp284726 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“, 2012) and improves social behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder (Huang et al., 2021); both of these disorders are associated with GI dysfunction (Azhari et al.”
BackgroundQiu, W., Go, K. A., Wen, Y., Duarte‐Guterman, P., Eid, R. S., & Galea, L. A. M. (2021) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2021.06.012 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Wang, T., Zhao, T., Liu, L., Teng, H., Fan, T., Li, Y., Wang, Y., Li, J., Xia, K., & Sun, Z. S. (2022) · EBioMedicine · doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104091 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“19 (cid:2) 28 Certain studies supported the beneficial effects of oxytocin intervention in social functioning and within non-social domains (repetitive behaviour) in patients with ASD, 20 whereas other studies support only one of these effects 19-25,28 (cid:2) 33 or neither.”
Zhao, W., Le, J., Liu, Q., Zhu, S., Lan, C., Zhang, Q., Zhang, Y., Li, Q., Kou, J., Yang, W., et al. (2024) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-024-03025-4 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“…promise in improving social function in animal models of autism [4] and from acute dosing in both typically developing and autistic individuals [5, 6], fi ndings from a large number of clinical trials over the past decade using chronic intranasal treatment protocols have been inconsistent.”
BackgroundMakris, G., Chouliaras, G. L., Apostolakou, F., Papageorgiou, C., Chrousos, G. P., Papassotiriou, I., & Pervanidou, P. (2021) · Children · doi:10.3390/children8060478 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Frehner, S. S., Dooley, K. T., Palumbo, M. C., Smith, A. L., Goodman, M. M., Bales, K. L., & Freeman, S. M. (2022) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B · doi:10.1098/rstb.2021.0118 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Meier, M., Lonsdorf, T. B., LUPIEN, S. J., Tobias Stalder, A., Laufer, S., Sicorello, M., Linz, R., & Puhlmann, L. M. C. (2022) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100144 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Autism spectrum disorder and various mechanisms behind it
Rajabi, P., Noori, A. S., & Sargolzaei, J. (2024) · Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173887 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Available Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Old Strategies to New Options
Dell’Osso, L., Bonelli, C., Giovannoni, F., Poli, F., Anastasio, L., Cerofolini, G., Nardi, B., Cremone, I. M., Pini, S., & Carpita, B. (2025) · Pharmaceuticals · doi:10.3390/ph18030324 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“Focusing on its function, animal and human models have highlighted improved social behaviors through intranasal oxytocin spray [201–206].”
InfluentialHu, L., Du, X., Jiang, Z., Song, C., & Liu, D. (2023) · European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00228-023-03545-w · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Chronic oxytocin improves neural decoupling at rest in children with autism: an exploratory RCT
Alaerts, K., Moerkerke, M., Daniëls, N., Zhang, Q., Ricchiuti, G., Steyaert, J. G., Prinsen, J., & Boets, B. (2024) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.13966 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Oxytocin Regulates Synaptic Transmission in the Sensory Cortices in a Developmentally Dynamic Manner
Zhang, J., Li, S.-J., Miao, W., Zhang, X., Zheng, J.-J., Wang, C., & Yu, X. (2021) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2021.673439 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Lindenmaier, Z., Ellegood, J., Stuive, M., Easson, K., Yee, Y., Fernandes, D., Foster, J. A., Anagnostou, E. A., & Lerch, J. P. (2022) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119243 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Tsingotjidou, A. (2022) · Biomolecules · doi:10.3390/biom12111603 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“1Mus-deficient mice [104] Magel1-deficient mice [105] Magel2-deficient mice [106] Magel2-deficient mice [107] VPA rats and FRX mice [108] BALB/cByJ and C58/J mice [110,111] Oprm1−/− Mouse [112] HPC-1/Syntaxin1A Knockout Mice [113] Shank3-Deficient Rat [114] Intranasal OXT in adolescent boys [87] Intranasal OXT treatme…”
BackgroundMethodAn Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Aishworiya, R., Valica, T., Hagerman, R. J., & Restrepo, B. (2024) · FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.focus.24022006 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Higashida, H., Furuhara, K., Lopatina, O. L., Gerasimenko, M., Hori, O., Hattori, T., Hayashi, Y., Михайлович, Ч. С., Shabalova, A. A., Salmina, A. B., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.858070 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Intraamygdaloid Oxytocin Reduces Anxiety in the Valproate-Induced Autism Rat Model
László, K., Kiss, O., Vörös, D., Mintál, K., Ollmann, T., Péczely, L., Kovács, A., Zagorácz, O., Kertes, E., Kállai, V., et al. (2022) · Biomedicines · doi:10.3390/biomedicines10020405 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“Despite a large number of preclinical and clinical trials, there is no effective therapy for ASD, so its treatment is still a challenge [37].”
BackgroundIntranasal oxytocin as a treatment for anxiety and autism: From subclinical to clinical applications
Yin, H., Jiang, M., Han, T., & Xu, X. (2024) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171211 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Hohl, C. H., Zilcha‐Mano, S., & Delgadillo, J. (2024) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105935 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“…focusing on studies involving participants with autism spectrum disorders found that oxytocin administration had significant beneficial effects on social functioning (Huang et al., 2021) but no significant effects on other outcomes such as anxiety or repetitive behaviors (Kiani et al., 2023).”
BackgroundModulation of the thermosensory system by oxytocin
Zayan, U., Prato, L. C. D., Muscatelli, F., & Matarazzo, V. A. (2023) · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.1075305 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“A systematic analysis of 28 studies on the effects of OT IN administration in the treatment of ASD showed beneficial effects on social functioning but nothing relevant for the resting part of the ASD symptoms (Huang et al., 2021).”
BackgroundOxytocin and autism: Insights from clinical trials and animal models
Xing, C., & Yu, X. (2025) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2025.103015 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Persico, A. M., Asta, L., Chehbani, F., Mirabelli, S., Parlatini, V., Cortese, S., Arango, C., & Vitiello, B. (2024) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111176 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Cesarean section delivery is a risk factor of autism-related behaviors in mice
Nagano, M., Saitow, F., Higo, S., Uzuki, M., Mikahara, Y., Akimoto, T., Ozawa, H., Nishimori, K., & Suzuki, H. (2021) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88437-8 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Breach, M. R., Akouri, H. E., Costantine, S., Dodson, C. M., McGovern, N., & Lenz, K. M. (2023) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105427 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Takiguchi, S., Makita, K., Fujisawa, T. X., Nishitani, S., & Tomoda, A. (2023) · Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/frcha.2022.1056115 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Recent studies on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) indicate that intranasal OT administration is generally well tolerated with few side effects (23 – 26).”
Kang, H., Glaser, B. D., Sartorius, A. M., Audunsdottir, K., Kildal, E. S.-M., Nærland, T., Andreassen, O. A., Westlye, L. T., & Quintana, D. S. (2025) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-024-02871-4 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Human social behavior and oxytocin: Molecular and neuronal mechanisms
Matsushita, H., & Nishiki, T. (2025) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.02.026 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Szafoni, S., & Piegza, M. J. (2022) · Journal of Personalized Medicine · doi:10.3390/jpm12071067 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Skotalczyk, M., Dąbrowska, K. A., Smorońska-Rypel, J., Wilczyński, K. M., & Janas-Kozik, M. H. (2024) · European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education · doi:10.3390/ejihpe14030044 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Interestingly, the results obtained, although optimistic, are often contradictory, and the evidence for its effectiveness is currently assessed as weak [40].”
BackgroundEmerging Treatments and Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review
Kaye, A. D., Allen, K. E., Smith, V. S., Tong, V. T., Mire, V. E., Huy, N. V., Lee, Z., Kouri, M., Baptiste, C. J., Mosieri, C. N., et al. (2024) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.63671 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Mentalising and depression: a mini-review on behavior, neural substrates, and treatment options
Langenbach, B. P., Koelkebeck, K., & Knoch, D. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1116306 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
The gut microbiome and sociability
Weber, K. T., Varian, B. J., & Erdman, S. E. (2024) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2024.1372274 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
A tutorial for calculating field-specific effect size distributions
Glaser, B. D., Kang, H., Audunsdottir, K., Sartorius, A. M., & Quintana, D. S. (2026) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/s13428-026-03003-2 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“…contains 616 effect sizes from 15 meta-analyses on oxytocin intervention studies (Bakermans-Kranenburg & van IJzendoorn, 2013; Chen et al., 2021; Huang et al., 2021; Kang et al., 2022; Keech et al., 2018; Leppanen et al., 2017, 2018; Leslie et al., 2018; Ooi et al., 2017; Peled-Avron et al.,…”
Ricchiuti, G., Tuerlinckx, E., Taillieu, A., Prinsen, J., Steyaert, J. G., Boets, B., & Alaerts, K. (2025) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/02698811241309621 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
The Historical Evolution and Modern Research of the Alliance in Psychotherapy and Counseling
Oreshina, G. V., & Zhukova, M. (2023) · Clinical Psychology and Special Education · doi:10.17759/cpse.2023120302 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Haaf, R., Brandi, M., Albantakis, L., Lahnakoski, J. M., Henco, L., & Schilbach, L. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50770-5 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Meng, H., Li, Q., Wang, J., Yue, W., Zhang, D., Sun, X., Wang, L., & Li, J. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1162179 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“For example, although the efficacy is controversial, some clinical evidence showed that functional training (53, 54) and nasal oxytocin (39) can effectively improve the social cognition of autistic patients, the mechanism of which might be the enhancement of neurogenesis in hippocampus.”
BackgroundDanoff, J. S., Page, E. A., Perkeybile, A. M., Kenkel, W. M., Yee, J. R., Ferris, C. F., Carter, C. S., & Connelly, J. J. (2023) · Frontiers in Genetics · doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1225197 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
The scent of love is in the air(way): a potential drug target for sleep apnea?
Osman, A. M., Altree, T. J., & Eckert, D. J. (2023) · SLEEP · doi:10.1093/sleep/zsad019 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“The therapeutic potential for intranasal oxytocin has been investigated across a range of conditions including psychiatric disorders [32–35], autism spectrum disorder [36], pain [37], cardiovascular diseases [38] and more recently, sleep disorders [39–41].”
BackgroundRaj, S., Alwinesh, M. T. J., & Mammen, P. M. (2025) · Indian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_811_24 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Yuan, B., Gao, D., Yu, R., & Huang, Y. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106215 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationEvolution of neuropeptides: From diffusing molecules to modulators of synaptic transmission
Leroy, F., Gimenez, P., Krabichler, Q., & Grinevich, V. (2026) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2026.102920 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Rahim, F., Qasim, N. H., Karlygash, T., Khozhamkul, F., Dzhusupov, K. O., Tekmanova, A. K., & Kussaiynova, E. (2024) · Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40489-024-00428-3 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Oxytocin lipidation expanding therapeutics for long-term reversal of autistic behaviors in rats
Li, H., Chen, Y., & Qiu, Y. (2025) · International Journal of Pharmaceutics · doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.125299 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Utility of Downstream Biomarkers to Assess and Optimize Intranasal Delivery of Oxytocin
DuBois, M. C., Tseng, A., Francis, S. M., Haynos, A. F., Peterson, C. B., & Jacob, S. (2022) · Pharmaceutics · doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14061178 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“, caregiver-reported social responsiveness [10–12], facial emotion recognition task performance [13], or scales used for pharmacological trials [14,15].”
BackgroundCan memantine treat autism? Answers from preclinical and clinical studies
Aboul‐Fotouh, S., Zohny, S. M., Elnahas, E. M., Habib, M. Z., & Hassan, G. A. M. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106019 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Guoynes, C. D., & Marler, C. A. (2022) · General and Comparative Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114230 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Bitsika, V., & Sharpley, C. F. (2024) · Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s41252-023-00364-z · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“%) by Huang et al. (2021) reported strong evidence of positive change in social, but not non-social behaviour (e.g., repetitive responses, stereotypies).”
Zhang, Y., Zhang, X., & Huang, L. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1477076 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Winterdahl, M., Nielsen, E. N., Hansen, S. B., Dias, A. H., Vendelbo, M. H., Jakobsen, S., & Yeomans, D. C. (2025) · EJNMMI Research · doi:10.1186/s13550-025-01329-0 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Recent research has explored intranasal administration of oxytocin as a promising approach for managing disorders like craniofacial pain, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [3, 11, 31].”
Du, M., Shi, P., Liu, Z., Xu, Y., Liu, X., Liu, W., Liu, S., & Ming, D. (2026) · npj Digital Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41746-026-02375-1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Ricchiuti, G., Taillieu, A., Tuerlinckx, E., Prinsen, J., Debbaut, E., Steyaert, J. G., Boets, B., & Alaerts, K. (2025) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-025-06617-6 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“…points to disrupted oxytocinergic signaling as a potential factor in autism [4, 5], leading to increased interest in the intranasal administration of oxytocin as a pharmacological option aimed at improving stress regulation and alleviating the core social difficulties characterizing autism [6, 7].”
Sawares, A. S., Olver, J. S., Morcos, M., & Norman, T. R. (2024) · Australasian Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/10398562241291335 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Pharmacotherapy of Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Hodgins, G. E., Winsor, K., & Barnhill, J. (2022) · Pediatric Drugs · doi:10.1007/s40272-022-00517-y · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Qiao, Z., der Donck, S. V., Moerkerke, M., Dlhosova, T., Vettori, S., Dzhelyova, M. P., van Winkel, R., Alaerts, K., & Boets, B. (2022) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci12091224 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Alibek, K., Niyazmetova, L., Farmer, S., & Isakov, T. (2022) · Research Ideas and Outcomes · doi:10.3897/rio.8.e91179 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Pharmacologic interventions are limited and involve using antidepressant and antipsychotic medications to alleviate some psychiatric symptoms of autism (Huang et al. 2021).”
BackgroundShariatpanahi, M., Sojoudi, Z., Khodagholi, F., Rahmati, H., Jameie, S. B., Eftekharzadeh, M., Karizmeh, M. S., Shabani, M., & Zamani, E. (2023) · International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience · doi:10.1002/jdn.10286 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“The efficacy and safety concerns of oxytocin whether single-dose or long-term administration have been investigated for ASD patients through the years (Huang et al., 2021; Yamasue et al., 2020).”
Angelopoulou, M., Siaperas, P., Livadas, S., Karantana, E., Papadimitriou, D. T., & Angelopoulos, N. (2025) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.09.009 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Hausman-Cohen, S., LaValley, W., Way, H., Gutierrez, E., & Reeder, J. (2022) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms23042167 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“All of the above findings, along with the published studies of intranasal oxytocin being used and having a demonstrated benefit in children with ASD [40], made oxytocin qualify to be listed as a potential intervention for SHANK3 for the genomic CDS described.”
ResultSaporta, L., Feldman, R., Levi, L. W., Davidson, M., Burshtein, S., Gur, R. C., Zagoory‐Sharon, O., Amiaz, R., Park, J., Davis, J. M., et al. (2024) · Schizophrenia Bulletin Open · doi:10.1093/schizbullopen/sgae022 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Neuropeptidergic systems in psychiatric disorders
Hodzic, S., & Riedemann, T. (2026) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1654292 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Wu, L., Zhang, X.-C., Liu, S., Gao, X., & Wang, J. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1722874 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Research indicated that listening to music is accompanied by an increase in oxytocin levels (60), Oxytocin is believed to enhance social brain function in areas typically identi fi ed as underactive in children with autism (61, 62).”
Oxytocin and autism – A precision medicine framework to unpack mechanisms and evidence
Boulton, K., & Guastella, A. J. (2026) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106746 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Oxytocin Reactivity during a Wilderness Program without Parents in Adolescents
Morita, A., Shikano, A., Nakamura, K., Noi, S., & Fujiwara, T. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph192315437 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Shevela, Е. Y., Loginova, T. A., Munkuev, A. S., Volskaya, T. E., Sergeeva, S. A., Ращупкин, И. М., Kafanova, M. Y., Degtyareva, V. G., Sosnovskaya, A. V., Ostanin, A. A., et al. (2024) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm13113079 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
A multiverse meta-analysis of oxytocin administration studies
Kang, H., Deilhaug, E., Walle, K. M., Sartorius, A. M., & Quintana, D. S. (2025) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.109112 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Janz, P., Knoflach, F., Bleicher, K., Belli, S., Biemans, B. A. M., Schnider, P., Ebeling, M., Grundschober, C., & Benekareddy, M. (2023) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2023.1286552 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Harris, J. C., & Coyle, J. T. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/med/9780199928118.003.0016 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Daniëls, N., Moerkerke, M., Steyaert, J. G., Bamps, A., Debbaut, E., Prinsen, J., Tang, T., der Donck, S. V., Boets, B., & Alaerts, K. (2022) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2022.04.20.22274106 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
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Interdependency between oxytocin and dopamine in trust-based learning in mice
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“For instance, OT has been proposed as adjunct pharmacotherapy for psychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 53,54 .”
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Early life adversity impairs visually evoked innate defensive behaviors via oxytocin signaling
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- Authors
- Huang, Y., Huang, X., Ebstein, R. P., & Yu, R.
- Affiliations
- Lingnan University (HK)
- Peking University (CN)
- Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (CN)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HK)
- Corresponding author
- Yu, Rongjun
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-03
- Volume
- 122
- Pages
- 18-27
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3120256748
- Semantic Scholar
- f48f0f3b5ee61a8b063bae805b9f9d5c343c51ac
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 5
- FWCI
- 3.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- intranasal oxytocin, autism spectrum disorder, social functioning, social dysfunction, autism treatment
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Administration, Intranasal, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Oxytocin, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome
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