Endogenous oxytocin levels are associated with facial emotion recognition accuracy but not gaze behavior in individuals with schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Difficulties in social cognition are common in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and are not ameliorated by antipsychotic treatment. Intranasal oxytocin (OT) administration has been explored as a potential intervention to improve social cognition; however, results are inconsistent, suggesting potential individual difference variables that may influence treatment response. Less is known about the relationship between endogenous OT and social cognition in SZ, knowledge of which may improve the development of OT-focused therapies. We examined plasma OT in relationship to facial emotion recognition and visual attention to salient facial features in SZ and controls.

Methods

Forty-two individuals with SZ and 23 healthy controls viewed photographs of facial expressions

SUBMITTER: Spilka MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9007857 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature