Many anti psychotic medications prescribed today have had significant positive effects on mental illness for many people. There is no doubt that we need these medications in order for some to function at a higher capacity and for some to be almost free of debilitating psychiatric symptoms. On the other hand, there are many powerful alternative treatments that are many times overlooked by psychiatric providers. One treatment that has been recently studied is the use of oxytocin nasal spray to improve social skills in individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Part of ASD is characterized by deficits in social interactions including the presence of repetitive behaviors. In contrast to typical child development, children with autism show less interest in other people (Dadds, MacDonald, Cauchi, Williams, Levy, & Brennan, 2014). According to Pedersen (2012), current research has found that people with autism are more likely to have a particular difference in a gene that codes for the oxytocin receptor, but what the variation means functionally is unclear.
Some studies have found that the use of oxytocin nasal spray has had an effect on social processing in individuals with ASD, “suggesting that oxytocin may help to treat a basic brain function that goes awry in autism spectrum disorders” (Naubert, 2013). The data indicate that oxytocin specifically increases responses of the amygdala to social stimuli in individuals with ASD. The amygdala, “has been associated with processing of emotional stimuli, threat-related stimuli, face processing, and vigilance for salient stimuli” (Naubert, 2013). On the other hand, one study found that the use of oxytocin nasal spray had no significant impact on improving the social skills of children diagnosed with ASD. Dadds, MacDonald, Cauchi, Williams, Levy, & Brennan (2014) state that the benefits of nasal oxytocin for young children with autism spectrum disorders may be more circumscribed than suggested by previous studies, and suggest caution in recommending it as an intervention that is broadly effective.
It is clear that the use of oxytocin would not cure the symptoms of ASD completely, but this treatment may have the potential to be used in addition to behavioral therapies in some children with ASD. Parents are still struggling with the desire to help improve their child’s social skills. Oxytocin nasal spray treatment may be something to think about as more research is conducted.
Have you heard of oxytocin being used as an additional supplement in the treatment of ASD? What other alternative therapies have you heard of for the treatment of ASD? How do you feel about this type of treatment?
Would you consider using this additional supplement for improving social skills in children with ASD?
References
Dadds, M., McDonald, E., Cauchi, A., Williams, K., Levy, F., & Brennen, J. (2014). Nasal oxytocin for social deficits in childhood autism: A randomized controlled
trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(3), 521-531. doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-1899-3.
Nauert, R. (2013). Oxytocin may help autistic children process emotions. Psych Central.
Pedersen, T. (2012). Could the ‘love hormone’ help kids with autism? Psych Central.