A double-blind randomized controlled trial of oxytocin nasal spray and social cognition training for young people with early psychosis.

ABSTRACT: Social-cognitive deficits contribute to poor functional outcomes in early psychosis; however, no effective pharmacological treatments exist for these problems. This study was the first to investigate the efficacy of an extended treatment of oxytocin nasal spray combined with social cognition training (SCT) to improve social cognition, clinical symptoms, and social functioning in early psychosis. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, between-subjects trial, 52 individuals (aged 16-35 years) diagnosed with an early psychosis schizophrenia-spectrum illness were recruited. Participants received oxytocin (24 International Units) or placebo nasal spray twice-daily for 6 weeks, combined with group SCT (2 × 1 hour weekly sessions for 6 weeks). An additional dose of oxytocin was admini

SUBMITTER: Cacciotti-Saija C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4332939 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature