2/2-Antipsychotic Effects of Oxytocin

描述（由申请人提供）：肽类神经激素催产素在调节许多与精神分裂症高度相关的中枢神经系统功能中起关键作用。几项使用精神病动物模型的研究表明，催产素产生抗精神病样作用。最近的一项小型概念验证研究发现，与服用安慰剂的受试者相比，服用鼻内催产素（40 IU BID）作为现有抗精神病药物的辅助治疗3周的精神分裂症受试者精神病症状显著减轻，记忆力改善。我们现在建议进行一项后续研究，增加更高的剂量并延长治疗时间，目的是复制和扩展有希望的初步发现。具体而言，拟议的研究将测试6周每日鼻内催产素（40 IU BID或80 IU BID）与安慰剂相比对精神分裂症的核心症状和与该障碍相关的认知缺陷的疗效和安全性。假设两种催产素剂量都将改善症状和认知功能，其中较高剂量（80 IU BID）产生更强的效果。这项拟议的研究将提供关键的疗效，剂量和安全性信息的可行性开发催产素作为治疗精神分裂症。 公共卫生相关性：精神分裂症是一种使人衰弱的疾病，目前的治疗方法不能令人满意。我们提出了一项研究，旨在调查的有效性激素催产素作为一个附加到传统的精神分裂症治疗。拟议中的实验可能有助于为这种疾病找到上级治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The peptide neurohormone, oxytocin plays a critical role in the regulation of a number of diverse central nervous system functions, which are highly relevant to schizophrenia. Several studies using animal models of psychosis indicate that oxytocin produces antipsychotic-like effects. A recent, small, proof-of-concept study, found that schizophrenia subjects taking intranasal oxytocin (40 IU BID) as an adjunct to existing antipsychotic drugs for 3 weeks had significantly reduced symptoms of psychosis and improved memory compared to subjects taking placebo. We now propose to perform a follow-up study adding a higher dose and increasing the duration of treatment with the goal of replicating and extending the promising preliminary findings. Specifically, the proposed study will test the efficacy and safety of 6-weeks of daily intranasal oxytocin (40 IU BID or 80 IU BID compared to placebo on core symptoms of schizophrenia and on cognitive deficits associated with the disorder. It is hypothesized that both oxytocin doses will improve symptoms and cognitive function with the higher dose (80 IU BID) producing stronger effects. The proposed study will provide critical efficacy, dosing and safety information regarding the feasibility of developing oxytocin as a treatment for schizophrenia. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder for which current treatments are unsatisfactory. We propose a study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the hormone oxytocin as an add-on to conventional schizophrenia treatment. The proposed experiment may help lead to superior treatments for this illness.