Dose-dependent social-cognitive effects of intranasal oxytocin delivered with novel Breath Powered device in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind crossover trial

• DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.103
• Publication Date: 2017-05-23T13:41:06Z
• Authors: D S Quintana; L T Westlye; S Hope; T Nærland; T Elvsåshagen; E Dørum; Ø Rustan; M Valstad; L Rezvaya; H Lishaugen; E Stensønes; S Yaqub; K T Smerud; R A Mahmoud; P G Djupesland; O A Andreassen
• Keywords: Crossover study

The neuropeptide oxytocin has shown promise as a treatment for symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, clinical research progress been hampered by poor understanding oxytocin's dose-response and sub-optimal intranasal delivery methods. We examined two doses delivered using novel Breath Powered device designed to improve direct nose-to-brain activity in double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. In randomized sequence single-dose sessions, 17 male adults with ASD received 8 international units (IU) oxytocin, 24IU or placebo followed four social-cognitive tasks. observed an omnibus main effect on the primary outcome measure overt emotion salience measured emotional ratings faces (η2=0.18). Compared placebo, 8IU increased (P=0.02, d=0.63). There was no statistically significant increase after (P=0.12, d=0.4). effects were despite peripheral blood plasma concentrations. found reading mind eyes task performance secondary tasks (emotional dot probe face-morphing). To our knowledge, this is first trial assess dose-dependent single administration autism, results indicating that low dose can significantly modulate minimal systemic exposure.