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The grim prognosis of childhood conduct disorders (CD) warrants efforts to understand their etiologies and treatments (NEJM JW Psychiatry Oct 15 2012). Two studies provide insights.
Oxytocin affects empathy and sociality, which are deficient in individuals with callous-unemotional traits (CUT). To study genetic and environmental pathways in CD and CUT, Cecil and colleagues genotyped 84 children with conduct problems for oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation at birth and at ages 7 and 9 years. At age 13, participants were assessed for CUT and internalizing problems. In those with low internalizing problems, higher OXTR methylation (which decreases oxytocin expression) at birth was associated with higher CUT at age 13 and higher prenatal m…