INTRODUCTION: Cognitive deficits are a prominent, disabling component of schizophrenia and current pharmacological treatments have demonstrated limited efficacy in their amelioration. Oxytocin - though it has shown promise as a novel antipsychotic in multiple clinical trials - has as-yet poorly characterized effects on cognition, with some evidence indicating an amnestic profile. METHOD: As part of a previously reported trial of chronic adjunctive oxytocin in schizophrenia, we measured its effect on two cognitive tests: the CVLT (California Verbal Learning Test) and the LNS (Letter Number Sequence). Tests were performed at baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: We found no evidence for an amnestic effect and, in fact, significantly better performance with oxytocin on several subtests of the CVLT; namely total Recall trials 1-5 (p=0.027), short delayed free recall (p=0.032) and total recall discrimination (p=0.020). In contrast we found no difference between placebo and oxytocin on LNS performance. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report we are aware of documenting a beneficial effect of oxytocin on cognition in schizophrenia. Though from a small sample (n=15), these data both offset past concerns about oxytocin's amnestic effects, and may auger another potential benefit in addition to the already-demonstrated salutary effects on other components of the illness.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION:Cognitive deficits are a prominent, disabling component of schizophrenia and current pharmacological treatments have demonstrated limited efficacy in their amelioration. Oxytocin - though it has shown promise as a novel antipsychotic in multiple clinical trials - has as-yet poorly characterized effects on cognition, with some evidence indicating an amnestic profile. METHOD: As part of a previously reported trial of chronic adjunctive oxytocin in schizophrenia, we measured its effect on two cognitive tests: the CVLT (California Verbal Learning Test) and the LNS (Letter Number Sequence). Tests were performed at baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: We found no evidence for an amnestic effect and, in fact, significantly better performance with oxytocin on several subtests of the CVLT; namely total Recall trials 1-5 (p=0.027), short delayed free recall (p=0.032) and total recall discrimination (p=0.020). In contrast we found no difference between placebo and oxytocin on LNS performance. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report we are aware of documenting a beneficial effect of oxytocin on cognition in schizophrenia. Though from a small sample (n=15), these data both offset past concerns about oxytocin's amnestic effects, and may auger another potential benefit in addition to the already-demonstrated salutary effects on other components of the illness.
Authors: Michael C Davis; Michael F Green; Junghee Lee; William P Horan; Damla Senturk; Angelika D Clarke; Stephen R Marder Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2014-03-18 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Leah H Rubin; C Sue Carter; Lauren L Drogos; Hossein Pournajafi-Nazarloo; John A Sweeney; Pauline M Maki Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2015-05-16 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Ellen R Bradley; Adrienne van Nieuwenhuizen; Samantha Abram; Andrea N Niles; Joshua D Woolley Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2019-02-01 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Julianne C Flanagan; Anne Hand; Amber M Jarnecke; Megan M Moran-Santa Maria; Kathleen T Brady; Jane E Joseph Journal: Exp Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2018-08 Impact factor: 3.157