Oxytocin and autism: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Preti A, Melis M, Siddi S, Vellante M, Doneddu G, Fadda R

Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology1 Mar 2014Cited by 78 (Europe PMC)

PMID24679173DOI10.1089/cap.2013.0040PepBankPUB-24679173

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. 7 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In seven randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, all studies but one reported statistically significant between-group differences on at least one outcome.
In plain wordsIn seven trials of oxytocin in autism, all but one found a significant difference between groups on at least one outcome.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedBetween-group differences on at least one outcome
Study
n = 109
Outcome group
Overall treatment effect · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
All the studies but one reported statistically significant between-group differences on at least one outcome variable.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917301
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In seven randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, most findings had a medium effect size.
In plain wordsIn seven trials of oxytocin in autism, most findings had a medium effect size.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableEffect size of significant findings
Study
n = 109
Outcome group
Overall treatment effect · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Most findings were characterized by medium effect size.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917302
03HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, oxytocin was overall well tolerated and side effects, when present, were generally mild.
In plain wordsIn trials of oxytocin in autism, oxytocin was generally well tolerated and side effects were mostly mild.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableTolerability and side effect severity
Study
n = 109
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Overall, oxytocin was well tolerated and side effects, when present, were generally rated as mild
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917304
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, only one study had evidence that the improvement in emotion recognition was maintained after 6 weeks of intranasal oxytocin.
In plain wordsAmong seven trials of oxytocin in autism, only one showed that better emotion recognition lasted after 6 weeks of oxytocin spray.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseEmotion recognition maintained after 6 weeks of treatment
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · 6 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Only one study had evidence that the improvement in emotion recognition was maintained after 6 weeks of treatment with intranasal oxytocin.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917303
05HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, restlessness occurred more often under oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn trials of oxytocin in autism, restlessness happened more often with oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseRestlessness
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
restlessness, increased irritability, and increased energy occurred more often under oxytocin.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917305
06HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, increased irritability occurred more often under oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn trials of oxytocin in autism, irritability happened more often with oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseIncreased irritability
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
restlessness, increased irritability, and increased energy occurred more often under oxytocin.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917306
07HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In randomized trials of oxytocin in autism, increased energy occurred more often under oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn trials of oxytocin in autism, increased energy happened more often with oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseIncreased energy
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
restlessness, increased irritability, and increased energy occurred more often under oxytocin.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oxytocin interventions in autism, made from January 1990 to September 2013.
Summary · context
The review yielded seven RCTs, including 101 subjects with ASD (males=95) and 8 males with Fragile X syndrome.
Report a problemFND-2467917307

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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