Treeah Majors
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, USA
Title: Intranasal Oxytocin as behavioural pharmacotherapy in autism spectrum disorder
Biography
Biography: Treeah Majors
Abstract
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is hypothesized to result from an impairment in social motivation leading to impaired development of social cognition over time. Oxytocin is a mediator of social motivation and has the potential to improve socially responsive behavior in children with ASD. Th e purpose of this review is to provide an appraisal of current literature on the eff ect of intranasal oxytocin on behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Methods: Th e literature search was completed using the PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The search terms are as follows: Autism and intranasal oxytocin and children and behavior. Publications of all types from the years 2012 to 2017 were included.
Results: Th e searches yielded a total of 63 articles, 7 of which met inclusion criteria aft er full-text review. One study found a statistically significant improvement in socially responsive behavior. Two studies identified enhanced brain activity on fMRI during social information processing activities. These results point more towards oxytocin’s role in enhancing social motivation and learning in combination with reinforcing social stimuli rather than as a direct mediator of behavior changes.
Interpretation: The evidence supporting the use of intranasal oxytocin to impact behavior in autistic children is of low to moderate quality. Small sample sizes and the indirectness of some of the outcomes measured are primary barriers to drawing conclusions about the clinical applicability of this intervention. Further randomized controlled trials are needed before this intervention can be considered for use in a clinical setting.