Mechanisms and Effects of Oxytocin on Social Cognition in Schizophrenia - fMRI
Overview
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Intervention
- Oxytocin
- Conditions
- Schizophrenia
- Sponsor
- University of California, San Francisco
- Enrollment
- 59
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in fMRI neural activation patterns
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
In this study, investigators will examine the behavioral effects and neurophysiological mechanisms of the pro-social neuropeptide oxytocin in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia. Such research is a necessary first step towards identifying whether intranasal oxytocin administration can serve as an adjunct treatment for social impairments in schizophrenia.
Aim 1: To examine the effects of exogenous oxytocin on patterns of neural activation as measured by fMRI during a well-characterized affect-labeling task in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects.
Hypothesis A: Patients will exhibit amygdalar hyperactivity and PNS hypo-activity when passively viewing faces, which will be normalized by administration of oxytocin.
Hypothesis B: Patients will exhibit hypo-activity of the vPFC when affectively labeling faces and this hypo-activity will be normalized by oxytocin administration.
Investigators
Joshua Woolley
Principal Investigator
University of California, San Francisco
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Arms & Interventions
Oxytocin
40 IU Oxytocin
Intervention: Oxytocin
Saline Nasal Spray
Placebo Comparator
Intervention: Saline Nasal Spray
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in fMRI neural activation patterns
Time Frame: 2-days at least 1-week apart
During tasks in which participants will see and hear various stimuli, investigators will measure the change in neural activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and the temporoparietal junction between placebo and oxytocin testing days using the fMRI 3T Siemens Skyra scanner.
Secondary Outcomes
- Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI)(1 day)
- Social Functioning Scale (SFS)(1 day)
- Premorbid IQ test (AmNART)(1 day)
- UCLA Loneliness Scale(1 day)
- Experiences in Close Relationships - Relationship Structures (ECR-RS)(1 day)
- Socioeconomic Status (SES)(1 day)
- Emotional Quotient Scale (EQS)(1 day)
- Quality of Life Scale (QLS)(1 day)
- Kinsey Scale(1 day)
- Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)(1 day)