The combination of oxytocin and mindfulness-based group therapy for empathy and negative symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders – A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study

Treatment options for social cognition and negative symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) remain limited. Oxytocin could be a promising augmentation approach, but the social context influences the effect in humans. This pilot study hypothesized that oxytocin in a positive social setting...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychiatric research 2024-03, Vol.171, p.222-229
Main Authors: Zierhut, Marco, Bergmann, Niklas, Hahne, Inge, Wohlthan, Josefa, Kraft, Julia, Braun, Alice, Tam Ta, Thi Minh, Hellmann-Regen, Julian, Ripke, Stephan, Bajbouj, Malek, Hahn, Eric, Böge, Kerem
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Affect
Double-Blind Method
Empathy
Humans
Mindfulness
Negative symptoms
Oxytocin
Oxytocin - pharmacology
Pilot Projects
Psychotherapy, Group
Schizophrenia - drug therapy
Schizophrenia spectrum disorder
Stress
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Treatment options for social cognition and negative symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) remain limited. Oxytocin could be a promising augmentation approach, but the social context influences the effect in humans. This pilot study hypothesized that oxytocin in a positive social setting through mindfulness-based group therapy (MBGT) would positively affect empathy and negative symptoms as well as affect and stress in an exploratory approach in SSD. An experimental, randomized, double-blinded (participants, psychotherapists), placebo-controlled pilot study with 41 individuals with SSD was conducted at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Oxytocin or placebo (24 I.U.) was administered intranasally 45 min before two sessions of MBGT each. A 2 × 2 mixed model ANCOVA design was calculated to assess empathy by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Multifaceted Empathy Test and negative symptoms by the Self-Evaluation of Negative Symptoms. No benefit of oxytocin compared to placebo on empathy was observed, but significant between-group differences favoring oxytocin were found regarding the negative symptoms Diminished emotional range and Avolition. Negative affect and stress were significantly reduced compared to baseline. Mindfulness increased in both groups. Results indicated protocol adherence and retention rate of 91.1%, a drop-out rate of 8.9 % and a completion of 96 % of all sessions by the participants. No severe adverse events or side effects were reported. Our findings indicate proof-of-concept and suggest a potential role of oxytocin on negative symptoms and related variables in SSD in combination with MBGT. Future research should examine the stability of these effects with larger sample sizes. •Mindfulness-based group therapy works as positive social context for oxytocin.•No additional effect of oxytocin and mindfulness on empathy in schizophrenia.•Positive effect of oxytocin and mindfulness on negative symptoms in schizophrenia.•Decreased negative affect by oxytocin plus mindfulness for schizophrenia.•Stress reduction by oxytocin in combination with mindfulness for schizophrenia.
ISSN:0022-3956
1879-1379
1879-1379
DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.014