The effects of combined oxytocin and cognitive behavioral social skills training on social cognition in schizophrenia
- PMID: 30180918
- DOI: 10.1017/S0033291718002465
The effects of combined oxytocin and cognitive behavioral social skills training on social cognition in schizophrenia
Abstract
Background: Individuals with schizophrenia have deficits in social cognition that are associated with poor functional outcome. Unfortunately, current treatments result in only modest improvement in social cognition. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide with pro-social effects, has significant benefits for social cognition in the general population. However, studies examining the efficacy of oxytocin in schizophrenia have yielded inconsistent results. One reason for inconsistency may be that oxytocin has typically not been combined with psychosocial interventions. It may be necessary for individuals with schizophrenia to receive concurrent psychosocial treatment while taking oxytocin to have the context needed to make gains in social cognitive skills.
Methods: The current study tested this hypothesis in a 24-week (48 session) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that combined oxytocin and Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST), which included elements from Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT). Participants included 62 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (placebo n = 31; oxytocin n = 31) who received 36 IU BID, with supervised administration 45 min prior to sessions on CBSST group therapy days. Participants completed a battery of measures administered at 0, 12, and 24 weeks that assessed social cognition.
Results: CBSST generally failed to enhance social cognition from baseline to end of study, and there was no additive benefit of oxytocin beyond the effects of CBSST alone.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that combined CBSST and oxytocin had minimal benefit for social cognition, adding to the growing literature indicating null effects of oxytocin in multi-dose trials. Methodological and biological factors may contribute to inconsistent results across studies.
Keywords: Oxytocin; psychosis; social cognition.
Similar articles
-
Combined Oxytocin and Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training for Social Function in People With Schizophrenia.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2021 May-Jun 01;41(3):236-243. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001397. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2021. PMID: 33783399 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Oxytocin-augmented social cognitive skills training in schizophrenia.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014 Aug;39(9):2070-7. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.68. Epub 2014 Mar 18. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014. PMID: 24637803 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
A double-blind randomized controlled trial of oxytocin nasal spray and social cognition training for young people with early psychosis.Schizophr Bull. 2015 Mar;41(2):483-93. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbu094. Epub 2014 Jun 23. Schizophr Bull. 2015. PMID: 24962607 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Neuropsychological predictors of functional outcome in Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training for older people with schizophrenia.Schizophr Res. 2008 Mar;100(1-3):133-43. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2007.11.032. Epub 2008 Jan 28. Schizophr Res. 2008. PMID: 18222648 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Social cognitive interventions for people with schizophrenia: A systematic review.Asian J Psychiatr. 2018 Jun;35:115-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2016.06.013. Epub 2016 Sep 23. Asian J Psychiatr. 2018. PMID: 27670776 Review.
Cited by 3 articles
-
Combined Oxytocin and Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training for Social Function in People With Schizophrenia.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2021 May-Jun 01;41(3):236-243. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001397. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2021. PMID: 33783399 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
-
Oxytocin in Schizophrenia: Pathophysiology and Implications for Future Treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 21;22(4):2146. doi: 10.3390/ijms22042146. Int J Mol Sci. 2021. PMID: 33670047 Free PMC article. Review.
-
The Effects of Combined Social Cognition and Interaction Training and Paliperidone on Early-Onset Schizophrenia.Front Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 30;11:525492. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.525492. eCollection 2020. Front Psychiatry. 2020. PMID: 33192646 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical