Autism is a disorder characterized by verbal communication problems.
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by poor social ability and verbal communication skills, as well as restrictive and repetitive behaviors.
Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in California found that children with autism showed improved social behavior when treated with oxytocin, a hormone linked to social skills. Although the effect of oxytocin was modest, the results are exciting because there are no other medications to treat any of the central features of autism, experts say.
The study included 32 children with autism who were randomly assigned to receive either an intranasal oxytocin spray or a placebo spray twice daily for four weeks. Children’s blood oxytocin levels were measured before and after four weeks. Children’s behavior was assessed at the start and end of the trial using a standardized questionnaire completed by their parents and the hormone was found to be safe, with no adverse events.
The researchers saw some improvement even in children who received a placebo, although the effect was less pronounced than in the oxytocin group. Children who had low oxytocin at baseline received more benefit from placebo than those who started with high oxytocin, and their bodies’ own production of the hormone increased modestly.