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Oxytocin, which is produced in the hypothalamus, improves social behaviors, but findings from investigations in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been ambiguous (NEJM JW Psychiatry Jan 2016 and Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:1225; NEJM JW Psychiatry Oct 2014 and J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015; 56:444). The current investigators examined whether baseline oxytocin blood levels could account for these equivocal results.
In the 4-week, double-blind study, 32 children with ASD (age range, 6–12 years) were randomized to 24 IU of oxytocin intranasally or placebo twice daily. Participants had mean IQs in the 60s and global severity measures in the moderate or severe range. Stable pharmacotherapy did not differ between groups.
Improvement on…