Oxytocin and social cognition in affective and psychotic disorders

• Published in: European neuropsychopharmacology Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 265 - 282
• Main Authors: Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez, M, Mahon, Katie, Russo, Manuela, Ungar, Allison K, Burdick, Katherine E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition - drug effects; Humans; Internal Medicine; Major depressive disorder; Mood Disorders - drug therapy; Mood Disorders - psychology; Oxytocin; Oxytocin - administration & dosage; Psychiatry; Psychotic Disorders - drug therapy; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Psychotropic Drugs - administration & dosage; Schizophrenia; Social cognition; Social Perception; Schizophrenia; Bipolar disorder; Oxytocin; Major depressive disorder; Social cognition
• ISSN: 0924-977X; 1873-7862
• DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.07.012

Abstract Impairments in social cognition are now recognized as core illness features in psychotic and affective disorders. Despite the significant disability caused by social cognitive abnormalities, treatments for this symptom dimension are lacking. Here, we describe the evidence demonstrating abnormalities in social cognition in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, as well as the neurobiology of social cognition including the role of oxytocin. We then review clinical trials of oxytocin administration in psychotic and affective disorders and the impact of this agent on social cognition. To date, several studies have demonstrated that oxytocin may improve social cognition in schizophrenia; too few studies have been conducted in affective disorders to determine the effect of oxytocin on social cognition in these disorders. Future work is needed to clarify which aspects of social cognition may be improved with oxytocin treatment in psychotic and affective disorders.