Oxytocin spray helps a few kids with autism

"By showing that oxytocin can be put in a nasal spray and still improve a few symptoms of autism, it makes this treatment more accessible for many who might benefit".

Oxytocin is naturally occurring in the body, and doctors believe it is responsible for influencing a person's emotional state, forming social ties like romantic interest in another and the bond felt between a child and a parent.

This nasal spray was quite well tolerated overall and among the most common side effects included constipation, urination and thirst. It is also known as the "love hormone" because of its role in parent-child and the couple relationship.

A synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin has been shown to reduce behavioral problems in autistic children.

They believe their study is the first evidence of a medical treatment for the social impairments in children with autism. The researchers also used social responsiveness assessments to measure the improvement. It has various symptoms ranging from impairments in social interaction, behavioral issues and emotional and communicational problems, as well as stereotypical or repetitive behavioral patterns.

During the study, the researchers administered oxytocin nasal spray twice a day to 31 children aged between 3 and 8.

This is the first kind of a medicinal treatment that has demonstrated this sort of advantage for youngsters with autism.

Behavioural therapies can improve social, emotional and behavioural impairments but these are typically time-consuming (40 hours per week), remain costly and show mixed outcomes.

Researchers found that oxytocin contributed to changes in the brain part responsible for social behavior.

The study was small, so larger studies will be needed to confirm the link between oxytocin supplementation and an improvement in autistic symptoms.

Study co-creator and co-executive of the Brain and Mind Center, Ian Hickie noticed the new results were a basic first progress in the advancement of medicinal medications for the social shortages that portray a mental imbalance.

However, Halladay recommended that oxytocin treatment be given "in conjunction with other therapies".

Experts were cautiously optimistic about the study results.

Dr. Andrew Adesman is chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, in New Hyde Park.

"Oxytocin is not a cure for autism and there isn't likely to be a single treatment for autism in the near future", Associate Professor Guastella said.

The new study was published October 27 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.