Oxytocin administration selectively improves olfactory detection thresholds for lyral in patients with schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Olfaction plays an important role in mammalian social behavior. Olfactory deficits are common in schizophrenia and correlate with negative symptoms and low social drive. Despite their prominence and possible clinical relevance, little is understood about the pathological mechanisms underlying olfactory deficits in schizophrenia and there are currently no effective treatments for these deficits. The prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin may affect the olfactory system when administered intranasally to humans and there is growing interest in its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia.

Methods

To examine this model, we administered 40IU of oxytocin and placebo intranasally to 31 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum illness and 34 age-matched healthy control participants

SUBMITTER: Woolley JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4503321 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature