Pro-social hormones for autism?

What is a pro-social hormone? Well, apparently the neuropeptide, oxytocin could be one. In the search to find medication to help improve social function in some children with autism, intranasal oxytocin has been used. Does it work? Sikich L et al (N Engl J Med 2021;385: 1462–1473) have conducted a 24-week, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of oxytocin therapy in children and young adults, 3 to 17 years of age with autism spectrum disorder. Out of 355 subjects screened, they enrolled 290 recruits who were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio, with stratification according to age and verbal fluency, to receive oxytocin or placebo. The oxytocin was administered intranasally at a total target dose of 48 international units daily. The primary outcome was the least-squares mean change from baseline on the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist modified Social Withdrawal subscale (ABC-mSW), which includes 13 items. Secondary outcomes included two additional measures of...

from Archives of Disease in Childhood current issue https://ift.tt/3x1nQAG