{"id":6882,"date":"2018-02-17T08:55:49","date_gmt":"2018-02-17T08:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/evaggelatos.com\/?p=6882"},"modified":"2018-02-17T08:55:49","modified_gmt":"2018-02-17T08:55:49","slug":"h-%ce%bf%ce%be%cf%85%cf%84%ce%bf%ce%ba%ce%af%ce%bd%ce%b7-%ce%b1%cf%85%ce%be%ce%ac%ce%bd%ce%b5%ce%b9-%cf%84%ce%b7%ce%bd-%ce%ba%ce%bf%ce%b9%ce%bd%cf%89%ce%bd%ce%b9%ce%ba%ce%ae-%ce%b1%ce%bd%cf%84%ce%b1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evaggelatos.com\/?p=6882","title":{"rendered":"H \u03bf\u03be\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03ba\u03af\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b1\u03c5\u03be\u03ac\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c0\u03cc\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc"},"content":{"rendered":"

More evidence that short-term oxytocin use can help kids with autism <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

New study pairs oxytocin nasal spray with behavioral therapy,<\/strong> but other research raises red flags about long-term use<\/span><\/p>\n

A five-week treatment with oxytocin nasal spray improved social, emotional and behavioral issues among young children with autism, according to new research published this week<\/a> in Molecular Psychiatry<\/em><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A naturally occurring hormone, oxytocin plays a role in social bonding<\/strong>. In early studies \u2013 including a\u00a0clinical trial supported by Autism Speaks<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a nasal spray containing a synthetic version of oxytocin temporarily increased social responsiveness<\/strong> in children with autism. However, results have been inconsistent in larger, follow-up studies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, studies in laboratory animals<\/a> have suggested that long-term use might actually decrease the brain\u2019s natural production of this so-called \u201csocial hormone.\u201d And still other research<\/a> has shown that oxytocin levels are no lower in people with autism, on average, than they are in other people.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new study<\/a>, conducted at the University of Sydney, Australia, enrolled 39 children, ages 3 to 8 years of age. Thirty-one of the children completed the study. Each received synthetic oxytocin or a placebo (saline solution) in a nasal spray twice daily for five weeks.<\/strong> The researchers then switched the two groups so that those who had received oxytocin received the placebo, and vice versa. Neither the researchers nor the families knew when each child was getting the active treatment until the study\u2019s end.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the researchers observed the children\u2019s behavior as they participated in behavioral therapy sessions at the university\u2019s autism clinic. They also had parents fill out daily questionnaires on their children\u2019s behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We used some of the most widely used assessments of social responsiveness for children with autism,” says co-author Adam Guastella, a child psychologist in the university\u2019s Brain and Mind Centre. “We found that following oxytocin treatment, parents reported their child to be more socially responsive at home. Our own blind independent clinician ratings also supported improved social responsiveness in the therapy rooms of the Brain and Mind Centre.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“The potential to use such simple treatments to enhance the longer-term benefits of other behavioral, educational and technology-based therapies is very exciting,” adds study co-author Ian Hickie, a psychiatrist at the Sydney Brain and Mind Centre.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, the nasal spray was well tolerated and the most common adverse events were increased thirst, urination and constipation. However, two children receiving oxytocin had to discontinue because of worsening behavioral challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next step, the researchers say, is to understand how<\/em> oxytocin changes brain circuitry<\/strong> to improve social behavior and to see how oxytocin might be used to improve children\u2019s response to behavioral therapy and social-skills classes.<\/strong> The goal is to develop the potential of oxytocin-based medicines \u2013 not in isolation \u2013 but in the context of multi-disciplinary care, they say.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it\u2019s premature to give children oxytocin based on this small and limited trial, I think it shows the importance of studying such treatments in younger children,\u201d comments developmental pediatrician Paul Wang, Autism Speaks senior vice president for medical research. \u201cThis is why early diagnosis is so important \u2013 so that treatment and treatment research can begin at the ages when it\u2019s likely to make the most difference.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Initial issue of the above article was in October 28, 2015<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More evidence that short-term oxytocin use can help kids with autism New study pairs oxytocin nasal spray with behavioral therapy, but other research raises red flags about long-term use A five-week treatment with oxytocin nasal spray improved social, emotional and behavioral issues among young children with autism, according to new research published this week in … <\/p>\n

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