Oxytocin Effect in Adult Patients with Autism: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Kiani Z, Farkhondeh T, Aramjoo H, Aschner M, Beydokhti H, Esmaeili A, Arab-Zozani M, Samarghandian S

CNS & neurological disorders drug targets1 Jan 2023Cited by 13 (Europe PMC)

PMID35585805DOI10.2174/1871527321666220517112612PepBankPUB-35585805

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 a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, intranasal oxytocin showed no significant efficacy on anxiety.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, oxytocin spray had no significant effect on anxiety.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAnxiety in autism, pooled SMD
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
SMD
−0.168 SMD
anxiety
Source sentences
Summary
anxiety (SMD: -0.168, SE= 0.112; 95% CI: -0.387, 0.050, p = 0.132)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of intranasally administered oxytocin for autism.
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580501
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, intranasal oxytocin showed no significant efficacy on repetitive behavior.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, oxytocin spray had no significant effect on repetitive behavior.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeRepetitive behavior in autism, pooled SMD
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
SMD
−0.078 SMD
repetitive behavior
Source sentences
Summary
repetitive behavior (SMD: -0.078, SE= 0.155; 95% CI: -0.382, 0.225, p = 0.614)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of intranasally administered oxytocin for autism.
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580502
03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, intranasal oxytocin showed no significant efficacy on social function.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, oxytocin spray had no significant effect on social function.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeSocial function in autism, pooled SMD
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
SMD
−0.018 SMD
social function
Source sentences
Summary
social function (SMD: -0.018, SE= 0.133; 95% CI: -0.279, 0.242, p = 0.891)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of intranasally administered oxytocin for autism.
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580503
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a meta-analysis of randomized trials in autism, intranasal oxytocin showed no significant efficacy on autism severity.
In plain wordsIn a pooled analysis of autism trials, oxytocin spray had no significant effect on autism severity.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeSeverity of autism, pooled SMD
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
SMD
−0.084 SMD
severity
Source sentences
Summary
severity (SMD: -0.084, SE= 132; 95% CI: -0.343, 0.175, p = 0.524)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of intranasally administered oxytocin for autism.
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580504
05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In the systematic review, one out of four studies reported clinical improvement in autism severity with intranasal oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn a review of autism trials, only one of four studies reported better severity with oxytocin spray.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedClinical improvement in severity across trials (narrative)
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
One out of 4 studies reported clinical improvement in severity
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of intranasally administered oxytocin for autism.
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580505
06HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In the systematic review, one out of six studies indicated improvement in social function with intranasal oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn a review of autism trials, only one of six studies reported better social function with oxytocin spray.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedImprovement in social function across trials (narrative)
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
1 out of 6 studies indicated improvement in social function.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This systematic review and meta-analysis study evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of intranasally administered oxytocin for autism.
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580506
07HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In the systematic review of trials in autism, no study corroborated the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin for anxiety and repetitive behavior.
In plain wordsIn a review of autism trials, no study confirmed that oxytocin spray helps anxiety or repetitive behavior.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeEfficacy for anxiety and repetitive behavior across trials (narrative)
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
No study corroborated the efficacy of oxytocin for the treatment of anxiety and repetitive behavior.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Ten RCTs were selected for the systematic review.
Report a problemFND-3558580507

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, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Keywords

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