Cited by 185Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Effect of intranasal oxytocin on the core social symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: a randomized clinical trial

Yamasue, Hidenori, Okada, Takashi, Munesue, Toshio, Kuroda, Miho, Fujioka, Toru, Uno, Yota, Matsumoto, Kaori, Kuwabara, Hitoshi +21 more·2020·Molecular Psychiatry

Abstract

Although small-scale studies have described the effects of oxytocin on social deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), no large-scale study has been conducted. In this randomized, parallel-group, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in Japan, 106 ASD individuals (18-48 y.o.) were enrolled between Jan 2015 and March 2016. Participants were randomly assigned to a 6-week intranasal oxytocin (48IU/day, n = 53) or placebo (n = 53) group. One-hundred-three participants were analyzed. Since oxytocin reduced the primary endpoint, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) reciprocity, (from 8.5 to 7.7; P < .001) but placebo also reduced the score (8.3 to 7.2; P < .001), no between-group difference was found (effect size -0.08; 95% CI, -0.46 to 0.31; P = .69); however, plasma oxytocin was only elevated from baseline to endpoint in the oxytocin-group compared with the placebo-group (effect size -1.12; -1.53 to -0.70; P < .0001). Among the secondary endpoints, oxytocin reduced ADOS repetitive behavior (2.0 to 1.5; P < .0001) compared with placebo (2.0 to 1.8; P = .43) (effect size 0.44; 0.05 to 0.83; P = .026). In addition, the duration of gaze fixation on socially relevant regions, another secondary endpoint, was increased by oxytocin (41.2 to 52.3; P = .03) compared with placebo (45.7 to 40.4; P = .25) (effect size 0.55; 0.10 to 1.0; P = .018). No significant effects were observed for the other secondary endpoints. No significant difference in the prevalence of adverse events was observed between groups, although one participant experienced temporary gynecomastia during oxytocin administration. Based on the present findings, we cannot recommend continuous intranasal oxytocin treatment alone at the current dose and duration for treatment of the core social symptoms of high-functioning ASD in adult men, although this large-scale trial suggests oxytocin's possibility to treat ASD repetitive behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41380-018-0097-2

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  • Small randomized controlled trials of intranasal oxytocin administered for 4 to 24 weeks in persons with autism spectrum disorder have had equivocal results regarding improvements in social functioning, social cognition, or social attention.

    “Small, randomized, controlled trials of intranasal oxytocin administered for 4 to 24 weeks in persons with autism spectrum disorder have had equivocal results with regard to oxytocin-associated improvements in social functioning, social cognition, or social attention.18–21”
  • The Sikich et al. results provide strong evidence that children should not be prescribed chronic intranasal oxytocin independently of context.

    “provide strong evidence that children should not be prescribed chronic intranasal oxytocin independently of context7”

    From Refining oxytocin therapy for autism: context is key (2022) · cites this paper as [7]

  • There is now compelling evidence that chronic administration of oxytocin is not beneficial.

    “now we have compelling evidence that chronic administration of oxytocin is not beneficial”

    From Refining oxytocin therapy for autism: context is key (2022) · cites this paper as [7]

  • The Sikich et al. results align with those of a clinical trial from Japan published in 2020.

    “these results align with those of a clinical trial from Japan, published in 2020”

    From Refining oxytocin therapy for autism: context is key (2022) · cites this paper as [7]

  • There are failures of replication in well-powered IN-OT clinical trials for ASD that urge caution in supporting IN-OT alone as a therapy.

    “There are, however, failures of replication in well-powered IN-OT clinical trials for ASD that urge caution in supporting IN-OT alone as a therapy [50].”

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Authors
Yamasue, H., Okada, T., Munesue, T., Kuroda, M., Fujioka, T., Uno, Y., Matsumoto, K., Kuwabara, H., Mori, D., Okamoto, Y., Yoshimura, Y., Kawakubo, Y., Arioka, Y., Kojima, M., Yuhi, T., Owada, K., Yassin, W., Kushima, I., Benner, S., Ogawa, N., Eriguchi, Y., Kawano, N., Uemura, Y., Yamamoto, M., Kano, Y., Kasai, K., Higashida, H., Ozaki, N., & Kosaka, H.
Affiliations
  • Hamamatsu University (JP)
  • Nagoya University (JP)
  • Kanazawa University (JP)
  • The University of Tokyo (JP)
  • University of Fukui (JP)
  • McLean Hospital (US)
  • Kanazawa Institute of Technology (JP)
  • Brain & Mind Research Center, Nagoya University (JP)
  • University of Tokyo Hospital (JP)
Corresponding author
Yamasue, Hidenori
Venue
Molecular Psychiatry
Published
2018-06-29
Volume
25
Issue
8
Pages
1849-1858
ISSN
  • 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5578
OpenAlex
W2809900380
Cited by
185
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 6
FWCI
26.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences)
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 › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, intranasal oxytocin, social dysfunction, reciprocity, repetitive behavior, visual fixation, plasma oxytocin, placebo effect, high-functioning adults, social cognition, gynecomastia, adverse events, treatment efficacy
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Administration, Intranasal, Adolescent, Adult, Double-Blind Method, Gynecomastia, Humans, Japan, Male, Middle Aged, Oxytocin, Young Adult

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