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Oxytocin May Curb Repetitive Behaviours In Autism Disorders

Repetitive behaviour in autism spectrum disorders may be linked to oxytocin system abnormalities and may, in part, be reduced by synthetic oxytocin infusion.

This is the suggestion of researchers in the United States following a study of oxytocin infusion in adults with autistic and Asperger's disorders. The study was led by Dr E Hollander from the Seaver Autism Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by dysfunction in three core behavioural domains: repetitive behaviours, social deficits and language abnormalities. Earlier reports have indicated there may be abnormalities in the peptide systems, particularly the oxytocin system, of these autism spectrum patients. Moreover, both oxytocin and the closely-related peptide vasopressin are known to play a role in social and repetitive behaviours.

This study examined the impact of oxytocin on repetitive behaviours in 15 patients with randomised double-blind oxytocin and placebo challenges.

Primary outcome measure an instrument rating six repetitive behaviours. These were: need to know, repeating, ordering, need to tell/ask, self-injury and touching.

The patients with autism spectrum disorders showed a significant reduction in repetitive behaviours after receiving oxytocin versus placebo infusion.

These repetitive behaviours in autism spectrum disorders may be related to abnormalities in the oxytocin system, and may be partially ameliorated by synthetic oxytocin infusion, conclude these researchers.
Neuropsychopharmacology 2003;28:193-198. "Oxytocin Infusion Reduces Repetitive Behaviors in Adults with Autistic and Asperger's Disorders."

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