Adult Study Oxytocin - fMRI



Status:Completed
Conditions:Cognitive Studies, Schizophrenia, Psychiatric
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 50
Updated:2/28/2019
Start Date:September 2012
End Date:September 2017

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Mechanisms and Effects of Oxytocin on Social Cognition in Schizophrenia - fMRI

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.


Inclusion Criteria for Patients:

- Male

- SCID-IV confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder

- Clinically stable

- No changes to medications for the past week

Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls:

- Male

- SCID-IV confirmed no diagnosis of a current Axis I disorder within the last year

Exclusion Criteria for Patients and Healthy Controls:

- Meeting criteria for current substance abuse or dependence or illicit drug use within
the last month (nicotine use is acceptable) as determined by a Urine Toxicology Drug
Screening

- Any illness that affects the nasal passages and impairs the delivery of a nasal spray

- Presence of any neurological or significant medical disorder, including medical
illnesses that could interfere with physiological recording such as cardiac
arrhythmias

- A pacemaker, extensive dental work, or any magnetic metal implants and upper body
tattoos

- Pregnancy

- Claustrophpbia

- Hearing difficulties

- A history of seizures

- Failure to receive a passing score on the reading test

Additional Exclusion Criteria for Patients and Healthy Controls:

- Taking any psychotropic medication or any medication that affects the autonomic or
cardiovascular systems.

- Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder in a first degree relative

- Failure to receive a passing score on the MOCA
We found this trial at
2
sites
San Francisco, California 94121
Principal Investigator: Josh Woolley, MD/PhD
Phone: 415-221-4810
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San Francisco, California 94143
Phone: 415-221-4810
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