Cited by 150Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin: Biomarkers of psychiatric disorders? A comprehensive systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis

Open access
Rutigliano, Grazia, Rocchetti, Matteo, Paloyelis, Yannis, Gilleen, James, Sardella, Alberto, Cappucciati, Marco, Palombini, Erika, Dell’Osso, Liliana +4 more·2016·Psychiatry Research

Abstract

A large array of studies have investigated peripheral oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (ADH) as potential biomarkers of psychiatric disorders, with highly conflicting and heterogenous findings. We searched Web of KnowledgeSM and Scopus® for English original articles investigating OT and/or ADH levels in different biological fluids (plasma/serum, saliva, urine and cerebrospinal fluid) across several psychiatric disorders. Sixty-four studies were included. We conducted 19 preliminary meta-analyses addressing OT alterations in plasma/serum, saliva, urine and cerebrospinal fluid of 7 psychiatric disorders and ADH alterations in plasma/serum, saliva, urine and cerebrospinal fluid of 6 psychiatric disorders compared to controls. Hedge's g was used as effect size measure, together with heterogeneity analyses, test of publication biases and quality control. None of them (except serum OT in anorexia nervosa) revealed significant differences. There is no convincing evidence that peripheral ADH or OT might be reliable biomarkers in psychiatric disorders. However, the lack of significant results was associated with high methodological heterogeneity, low quality of the studies, small sample size, and scarce reliability of the methods used in previous studies, which need to be validated and standardized.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis found no convincing evidence that peripheral oxytocin or vasopressin levels are reliable biomarkers across psychiatric disorders. The only Bonferroni-corrected significant difference was lower serum oxytocin in anorexia nervosa, amid high heterogeneity and methodological limitations.

Key findings

  • Across 19 preliminary meta-analyses, none except serum OT in anorexia nervosa showed significant differences after correction: AN serum OT n=2, overall sample=71, Hedges’ g=−0.824, 95% CI −1.308 to −0.341, p corr=0.001.
  • Several uncorrected signals did not survive Bonferroni correction: CSF OT in OCD g=0.599 (p unc=0.004, p corr=ns); CSF ADH in AN g=0.922 (p unc=0.008, p corr=ns); CSF ADH in OCD g=0.601 (p unc=0.003, p corr=ns); plasma ADH in psychosis g=−0.554 (p unc=0.008, p corr=ns); salivary OT in ASD g=−0.354 (p unc=0.046, p corr=ns).
  • Heterogeneity was often substantial or considerable, e.g. plasma OT in ASD Q=64.613, I²=93.81, p<0.001; plasma ADH in psychosis Q=55.984, I²=82.14, p<0.001.
  • In psychosis plasma ADH, extraction technique mattered: extracted studies n=6, overall sample=220, Hedges’ g=−1.099, 95% CI −1.617 to −0.581, p=0.001, Q=13.626, I²=63.31, p=0.018.

Methods

  • Systematic search of Web of Knowledge and Scopus until March 1, 2015, plus manual reference search; English original articles with ICD/DSM psychiatric diagnosis, healthy comparison group, and peripheral OT/ADH in plasma/serum, saliva, urine, or CSF; MOOSE guidelines adopted.
  • Sixty-four studies were included (final database 64 samples); 19 preliminary meta-analyses were performed; diagnoses with only one study available were not meta-analyzed.
  • Hedges’ g effect sizes with random-effects models, Bonferroni correction (0.05 divided by number of meta-analyses), Q and I² heterogeneity, Duval and Tweedie trim-and-fill publication bias testing, sensitivity analyses, and adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment.

Limitations

  • The paper states subgroups were very small, studies were highly heterogeneous, and confounders were common: 38% of included studies reported lithium salts, 42/62 (68%) failed to control for alcohol intake, 70% (35/50) did not ascertain pregnancy, and only 18% of OT studies and no ADH studies analyzed menstrual cycle fluctuations; meta-regressions were not possible due numerical constraints.
  • The paper states study quality was low: Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores ranged from 1 to 7, median 4 out of 9, and meta-analytical estimates were preliminary with high uncertainty.
  • Evident from the text: many meta-analyses pooled only 2 studies; urine and saliva ADH meta-analyses were not performed because insufficient data were retrieved; the effect of NOS scores on findings could not be directly assessed.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.04.117

Cites

140 of 140 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 31 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    In plasma/serum OT, there was no difference between healthy comparisons and Psychosis (n=8, overall sample=691, Hedges' g=-0.005, 95% CI -0.304 to 0.294, p unc=0.974, substantial between-studies heterogeneity Q=24.923, I2=71.91, p=0.001).

    “Psychosis (n ¼8, overall sample ¼691, Hedges' g¼ À0.005, 95% CI from À0.304 to 0.294, p unc ¼0.974, substantial between studies heterogeneity Q ¼24.923,I 2 ¼ 71.91, p¼ 0.001)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In CSF OT, there were no differences between healthy comparisons and BN (n=2, overall sample=86, Hedges' g=-0.219, 95% CI -0.755 to 0.318, p unc=0.425, between-studies heterogeneity non-significant).

    “BN (n¼ 2, overall sample¼86, Hedges' g¼ À0.219, 95% CI from À 0.755 to 0.318, p unc¼0.425, between studies heterogeneity non-significant)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In saliva OT, ASD were not statistically different from healthy controls after correction (n=2, overall sample=152, Hedges' g=-0.354, 95% CI -0.701 to -0.006, p unc=0.046, p corr=ns, between-studies heterogeneity non-significant).

    “OT levels in saliva of ASD were not statistically different from those observed in healthy controls (n ¼2, overall sample ¼152, Hedges' g¼ À0.354, 95% CI from À 0.701 to À 0.006, p unc¼ 0.046, p corr ¼ ns, between studies heterogeneity non significant).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Patients with AN had lower serum OT levels than healthy comparisons (n=2, overall sample=71, Hedges' g=-0.824, 95% CI -1.308 to -0.341, p corr=0.001, between-studies heterogeneity non-significant).

    “Patients with AN had lower serum OT levels than healthy comparisons (n¼ 2, overall sample ¼71, Hedges' g¼ À0.824, 95% CI from À 1.308 to À 0.341, p corr¼ 0.001, between studies heterogeneity non-significant).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In CSF OT, there were no differences between healthy comparisons and AN (n=2, overall sample=52, Hedges' g=-0.034, 95% CI -1.068 to 1.019, p unc=0.950, between-studies heterogeneity non-significant).

    “We found no differences between healthy comparisons and AN (n¼2, overall sample¼52, Hedges' g¼ À0.034, 95% CI from À 1.068 to 1.019, p unc¼0.950, between studies heterogeneity non-significant)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 16
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 23
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In plasma/serum ADH, there were no differences between healthy comparisons and Psychosis after correction (n=11, overall sample=630, Hedges' g=-0.554, 95% CI -0.966 to -0.142, p unc=0.008, p corr=ns, considerable between-studies heterogeneity Q=55.984, I2=82.14, p<0.001).

    “Psychosis (n¼ 11, overall sample ¼630, Hedges' g¼ À0.554, 95% CI from À 0.966 to À 0.142, p unc ¼0.008, p corr ¼ns, considerable between studies heterogeneity Q ¼55.984,I 2 ¼ 82.14, p o0.001)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Average plasmatic levels within studies included in the present meta-analysis ranged from 0.64 pg/mL to 436.97 pg/mL for OT and from 0.66 pg/mL to 109.17 pg/mL for ADH.

    “Average plasmatic levels within studies included in the present meta-analysis ranged from 0.64 pg/mL to 436.97 pg/mL for OT and from 0.66 pg/mL to 109.17 pg/mL for ADH”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Study quality scores ranged from 1 to 7 (median score was 4 out of 9 possible points).

    “Study quality scores ranged from 1 to 7 (median score was 4 out of 9 possible points).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Results were Bonferroni-corrected for multiple testing by dividing 0.05 by the overall number of meta-analyses conducted.

    “Results were Bonferroni-corrected for multiple testing, by dividing 0.05 by the overall number of meta-analyses conducted.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Publication biases were tested with the Duval and Tweedie trim and fill method when at least 3 studies were included.

    “Publication biases were tested with the Duval and Tweedie”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Duval and Tweedie, 2000 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate the influence of categorical moderators: assay technique, pregnancy, alcohol use and phase of the psychotic disorder.

    “We conducted other sensitivity analyses to investigate the putative influence of several categorical moderators: assay technique, pregnancy, alcohol use and phase of the psychotic disorder.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Sensitivity analyses were performed by sequentially removing each study and re-running the analysis when at least 5 studies were included.

    “To further assess the robustness of the results, we performed sensitivity analyses by sequentially removing each study and re-running the analysis, when at least 5 studies were included (Higgins and Green, 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Higgins and Green, 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    MOOSE guidelines were adopted to achieve high quality of reporting.

    “To achieve high quality of reporting we adopted MOOSE guidelines (Stroup et al., 2000)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Stroup et al., 2000 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Meta-analysis of observational studies is supposed to be characterized by significant heterogeneity.

    “As meta-analysis of observational studies is supposed to be characterized by significant heterogeneity, random effect models were used (Cooper et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cooper et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    An additional sub-group analysis divided First Episode Psychosis and chronic Psychosis versus healthy comparisons.

    “We performed an additional sub-group analysis dividing First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and chronic Psychosis vs healthy comparisons”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Discrepancies were resolved through consensus with a third researcher.

    “Discrepancies were resolved through consensus with a third researcher [MR].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Heterogeneity among study point estimates was assessed using Q statistics and the I2 index.

    “Heterogeneity among study point estimates was assessed using Q statistics (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010) and the proportion of the total variability in the effect size estimates evaluated with the I 2 index (Lipsey and Wilson, 2000).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Paulson and Bazemore, 2010 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Lipsey and Wilson, 2000

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The lack of significant results was associated with high methodological heterogeneity, low quality of the studies, small sample size, and scarce reliability of the methods used in previous studies.

    “the lack of significant results was associated with high methodological heterogeneity, low quality of the studies, small sample size, and scarce reliability of the methods used in previous studies”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Quality of reporting was assessed with an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

    “quality of reporting criterion (adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale http:// www.ohri.ca/programs/clinical_epidemiology/oxford.asp, see Supplementary material for detail)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Meta-analyses of OT levels in urine were not performed because insufficient data were retrieved.

    “Meta-analyses were not performed as insufficient data were retrieved.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    A two-step literature search was conducted by two independent researchers.

    “A two-step literature search was conducted by two independent researchers [GR, AS].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Both the commercially available immunoassays (RIA and EIA) have high heterogeneity and questionable validity.

    “Both the commercially available immunoassays (RIA and EIA) have high heterogeneity and questionable validity (McCullough et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites McCullough et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    During pregnancy dramatic structural and functional changes occur in the oxytocin system of the mother's brain.

    “During pregnancy dramatic structural and functional changes occur in the OT system of the mother's brain (Hillerer et al., 2014;Rocchetti et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Hillerer et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Rocchetti et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These results indicate that peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin levels are not reliable biomarkers of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.

    “Again these results indicate that peripheral OT and ADH levels are not reliable biomarkers of BD/MDD.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    These findings are characterized by high heterogeneity, various methodological limitations, and poor quality.

    “These findings are characterized by high heterogeneity, various methodological limitations, and poor quality.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Several confounding factors might have had an impact on the results.

    “Several confounding factors might have had an impact on the results.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our results do not contradict the potential role of the two neuropeptides in mental disorders per se but do clearly suggest that peripheral levels do not reliably distinguish cases from controls.

    “our results do not contradict the potential role of the two neuropeptides in mental disorders per se but do clearly suggest that peripheral levels do not reliably distinguish cases from controls.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Meta-analyses of ADH levels in saliva and urine were not performed because insufficient data were retrieved.

    “Meta-analyses were not performed as insufficient data were retrieved.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    There is considerable evidence that oxytocin and vasopressin play a role in various aspects of social behaviour.

    “There is considerable evidence of a role these two neuropeptides in various aspects of social behaviour.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A body of literature has demonstrated a role for OT and ADH in functions which map on to common symptoms and behavioural deficits in psychosis and schizophrenia, in particular in the social cognition domain.

    “a body of literature that has demonstrated a role for these neuropeptides in functions which map on to common symptoms and behavioural deficits in psychosis and schizophrenia, in particular in the social cognition domain (MacDonald and MacDonald, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites MacDonald and MacDonald, 2010 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The meta-analytical estimates are affected by high uncertainty and should be considered as a preliminary synthesis of the available literature.

    “As a consequence, our meta-analytical estimates are affected by high uncertainty and should be considered as a preliminary synthesis of the available literature.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationown data

    Because the present analysis investigates between-group differences rather than within-group effects, its results do not contradict the potential role of oxytocin and vasopressin in the symptoms of psychosis per se.

    “As the present analysis investigates between-group differences, not within-group effects our results do not contradict the potential role of these neuropeptides in the symptoms of psychosis per se.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    No significant publication bias emerged for the ADH meta-analyses.

    “No significant publication bias emerged.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Preclinical studies in rats found that systemic injection of lithium leads to a significant elevation of peripheral oxytocin levels.

    “As regard OT, preclinical studies in rats found that a systemic injection of lithium leads to a significant elevation of peripheral OT levels (Cui et al., 2001;You et al., 2001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Cui et al., 2001 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites You et al., 2001 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    For saliva and urine, estimated levels are highly discrepant and weakly correlated to plasmatic levels.

    “With respect to other bodily fluids, such as saliva and urine, it has been demonstrated that the estimated levels are highly discrepant and weakly correlated to plasmatic levels (McCullough et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites McCullough et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Patients with schizoaffective psychoses were included in some of the articles in the Psychosis subgroup (oxytocin: 6 out of 11; vasopressin: 4 out of 13).

    “they were included in some of the articles in the Psychosis subgroup (OT: 6 out of 11 (Goldman et al., 2008;Rubin et al., 2014Rubin et al., , 2013Rubin et al., , 2010;;Strauss et al., 2015;Walss-Bass et al., 2013)); ADH (4 out of 13 (Emsley et al., 1989;Ohsawa et al., 1993;Rubin et al., 2014Rubin et al., , 2013)))”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    EIA performed without extraction yielded values two orders of magnitude greater than those in extracted samples and without correlation, due to the presence of multiple adjunctive immunoreactive products besides oxytocin.

    “EIA performed without extraction yielded to values that were two orders of magnitude greater than those in extracted samples (Szeto et al., 2011) and without correlation, due to the presence of multiple adjunctive immunoreactive products besides oxytocin (Szeto et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Szeto et al., 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Vasopressin is involved in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, which has been found to be overactive in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

    “ADH is involved in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been found to be overactive in BD (Cervantes et al., 2001;Daban et al., 2005) and MDD (Carroll et al., 1981;Dinan, 1994;Holsboer, 2000).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cervantes et al., 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Daban et al., 2005 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Carroll et al., 1981 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    High levels of oxytocinase secreted by the placenta might further contribute to the final serum/plasma oxytocin levels.

    “Moreover, high levels of oxytocinase secreted by the placenta might further contribute to the final serum/plasma OT levels (Nomura et al., 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Nomura et al., 2005 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The lack of significant association was secondary to high heterogeneity across individual studies, low quality and significant methodological limitations.

    “The lack of significant association was secondary to high heterogeneity across individual studies, low quality and significant methodological limitations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Studies investigating plasma oxytocin and vasopressin levels during the menstrual cycle in different species, including humans, found that these fluctuate across the ovarian cycle.

    “Studies investigating plasma OT and ADH levels during the menstrual cycle in different species, including humans, found that these fluctuate across the ovarian cycle (Wathes and Swann, 1982).(Spruce et al., 1985).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Wathes and Swann, 1982

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Spruce et al., 1985 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Only 18% of the studies investigating oxytocin and none of those investigating vasopressin analyzed the fluctuations of oxytocin levels across the menstrual cycle phases.

    “Finally, only 18% of the studies investigating OT and none of those investigating ADH analyzed the fluctuations of OT levels across the menstrual cycle phases.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The two immunoassays are poorly correlated, thus preventing the comparison of results obtained by different research groups.

    “It is evident, as others have previously suggested (Christensen et al., 2014), that the two immunoassays are poorly correlated, thus preventing the comparison of results obtained by different research groups.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Christensen et al., 2014 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    38% of the included studies reported that participants were taking lithium salts.

    “38% of the included studies reported that participants were taking lithium salts (eTable 3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    According to the Bonferroni correction, each hypothesis has been tested at a significance level of 0.002 (CI unadjusted).

    “According to the Bonferroni correction, each hypothesis has been tested at a significance level of 0.002 (CI unadjusted).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
40 of 40

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Some, but not all, studies have shown reduced plasma oxytocin levels in children with autism spectrum disorder.

    “Some, but not all, studies have shown reduced plasma oxytocin levels in children with autism spectrum disorder.6”

    From Intranasal Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2021) · cites this paper as [6]

    Section 3.2.2 (p. not available) reports a negative pooled estimate for plasma oxytocin in ASD, substantial variation between studies, and no statistically significant overall difference. Table 1 (p. not available) identifies plasma studies involving children with ASD, but the available passages do not state which individual studies found reduced levels and which did not. (LLM, conf=0.74)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • A recent systematic review concluded that studies using ELISA on unextracted samples have produced no convincing evidence that peripheral vasopressin or oxytocin might be reliable biomarkers in psychiatric disorders.

    “A recent systematic review has concluded that studies using ELISA on unextracted samples have produced no convincing evidence that peripheral vasopressin or oxytocin might be reliable biomarkers in psychiatric disorders 135.”

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • MDD plasma ADH effect estimate falls outside its confidence interval

    Major

    The reported Hedges' g of −0.341 is below the stated confidence interval, which runs from −0.078 to 0.759. The interval's midpoint is +0.3405, suggesting a sign error in either the estimate or the interval.

    Reported -0.341 · recomputed 0.3405

  • ASD plasma OT analysis counts four studies but lists five

    Minor

    Table 1 lists five ASD plasma-OT samples: Modahl, Al-Ayadhi, Miller, Alabdali, and Taurines. Their sample sizes total the reported 404, but the analysis says n = 4.

2 of 2

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Authors
Rutigliano, G., Rocchetti, M., Paloyelis, Y., Gilleen, J., Sardella, A., Cappucciati, M., Palombini, E., Dell’Osso, L., Caverzasi, E., Politi, P., McGuire, P., & Fusar-Poli, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Pisa (IT)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University of Pavia (IT)
Venue
Psychiatry Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-07
Volume
241
Pages
207-220
ISSN
0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2346907797
Cited by
149
References
148
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 3
FWCI
2.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • ESRC (ES/K009400/1)
  • NARSAD
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
vasopressin, biomarkers, mental illness, saliva, plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, anorexia nervosa, methodological heterogeneity, study quality
MeSH terms
Mental Disorders, Humans, Oxytocin, Vasopressins, Reproducibility of Results, Biomarkers

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