Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that oxytocin plays an important role in social interactions. Previous studies also suggest altered oxytocin function in patients with schizophrenia and depression. However, few studies have examined the central oxytocin levels in these disorders.
Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oxytocin levels were measured by ELISA in male participants consisting of 27 patients with schizophrenia, 17 with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 21 healthy controls.
Results: CSF oxytocin levels of patients with schizophrenia or MDD did not differ significantly with healthy controls. The antidepressant dose or the Hamilton depression rating scale score did not significantly correlate with the oxytocin levels in MDD patients. CSF oxytocin levels in schizophrenic patients significantly negatively correlated with second generation antipsychotic dose (r=-0.49, P=0.010) but not with first generation antipsychotic dose (r=-0.13, P=0.50). A significant correlation was observed between oxytocin levels and negative subscale of PANSS (r=-0.38, P=0.050). This correlation remained significant even after controlling for second generation antipsychotic dose (r=-0.47, P=0.016).
Conclusions: We obtained no evidence of altered CSF oxytocin levels in patients with schizophrenia or those with MDD. However, lower oxytocin levels may be related to higher second generation antipsychotic dose and more severe negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2012.06.016 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Intranasal oxytocin for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia (FOXY): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive, crossover, phase 2a/2b superiority trial.
Lancet Neurol
February 2025
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Cognitive Neurology, St Joseph's Health Care London, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address:
Background: No treatments exist for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia. Previously, in a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study, intranasal oxytocin administration in people with frontotemporal dementia improved apathy ratings on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory over 1 week and, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, a single dose of 72 IU oxytocin increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal in limbic brain regions. We aimed to determine whether longer treatment with oxytocin improves apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBehavioral and Physiological Responses of Therapy Dogs to Animal-Assisted Treatment in an Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Program.
Animals (Basel)
January 2025
Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Therapy dogs have been increasingly incorporated into a variety of medical treatment programs to improve patients' treatment outcomes and wellbeing. However, research investigating the stress level of therapy dogs in this setting is limited. This is the first randomized-controlled and prospective study that investigated the wellbeing of therapy dogs in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSubdiaphragmatic vagotomy reduces hypothalamic oxytocin expression and blood levels after oral MDMA administration in male rats.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
January 2025
Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. Electronic address:
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a widely recognized entactogen frequently used recreationally. It is known for its interaction with the serotonin and oxytocin systems, which underlie its entactogenic effects in humans. Recently, we demonstrated that the gut-brain axis, mediated by the subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve, contributes to MDMA-induced resilience enhancement in rodents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBirthing Parents' Neural Response to Infant Cry: Moderating Effects of Oxytocin and Perceived Childhood Care.
Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci
January 2025
Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
Unlabelled: Individuals who perceive the caregiving they received from their parents as more caring tend to bond better with their infants and show more sensitive parenting behaviors. Early caregiving experiences are also related to differences in the functions of hormonal systems, including the oxytocinergic system. The current study examined how perceptions of childhood maternal care related to parenting behaviors, oxytocin levels, and neural responses to infant stimuli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxytocin ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute orchitis model: interplay of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways.
Front Pharmacol
January 2025
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Introduction: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is a powerful inducer of systemic inflammation and has been extensively utilized in experimental models to simulate inflammatory responses and septic disorders. Recent research indicates that oxytocin (OXY), a neuropeptide typically linked to social bonding and reproductive functions, may influence inflammatory processes. This work examines the impact of OXY on LPS-induced testicular damage, aiming to elucidate its therapeutic potential in addressing inflammatory disorders and broadening the comprehension of its functions beyond conventional neuroendocrine roles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!