Skip to content

Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 68 · 2019

4 results

Effects of oxytocin on empathy, introspective accuracy, and social symptoms in schizophrenia: A 12-week twice-daily randomized controlled trial.

Halverson T, Jarskog LF, Pedersen C, Penn D

Schizophrenia research20 Sept 2018Cited by 23 (Europe PMC)

PMID30243853 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6402996 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.schres.2018.09.013 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-30243853
Source linkPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 4 results

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 study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, 12 weeks of intranasal oxytocin gave some improvement on the IRI Perspective-Taking subscale versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin spray gave some improvement in perspective-taking compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseIRI Perspective-Taking subscale
    Study

    n = 68

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU twice daily · intranasal · 12 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    some improvement on the IRI Perspective-Taking Subscale.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Sixty-eight stable outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to receive oxytocin (24 IU twice daily) or placebo.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, oxytocin did not differ from placebo on self-reported social symptoms.

    In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin spray did not change self-reported social symptoms compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSelf-reported social symptoms
    Study

    n = 68

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU twice daily · intranasal · 12 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No additional between-group differences emerged on self-reported symptoms, empathy, or introspective accuracy.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Sixty-eight stable outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to receive oxytocin (24 IU twice daily) or placebo.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, oxytocin did not differ from placebo on other empathy measures.

    In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin spray did not change other empathy scores compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeEmpathy, other measures
    Study

    n = 68

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU twice daily · intranasal · 12 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No additional between-group differences emerged on self-reported symptoms, empathy, or introspective accuracy.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Sixty-eight stable outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to receive oxytocin (24 IU twice daily) or placebo.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, oxytocin did not differ from placebo on introspective accuracy.

    In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin spray did not change introspective accuracy compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeIntrospective accuracy
    Study

    n = 68

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU twice daily · intranasal · 12 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No additional between-group differences emerged on self-reported symptoms, empathy, or introspective accuracy.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Sixty-eight stable outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to receive oxytocin (24 IU twice daily) or placebo.

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.