Endogenous oxytocin response to film scenes of attachment and loss is pronounced in schizophrenia

Abstract Background Oxytocin (OXT) is critically involved in the regulation of attachment and interpersonal function. In this study, emotional children’s movies were used to stimulate OXT secretion in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, associations of OXT levels wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social cognitive and affective neuroscience 2019-01, Vol.14 (1), p.109-117
Main Authors: Speck, Lucas G, Schöner, Johanna, Bermpohl, Felix, Heinz, Andreas, Gallinat, Jürgen, Majić, Tomislav, Montag, Christiane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Attachment (Psychology)
Child Abuse - psychology
Children
Children's movies
Female
Humans
Loss (Psychology)
Male
Medical research
Middle Aged
Motion Pictures
Neuropsychological Tests
Object Attachment
Original
Oxytocin
Oxytocin - blood
Physiological aspects
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychological research
Psychopathology
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenic Psychology
Sex Characteristics
Somatotropin
Women's health
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background Oxytocin (OXT) is critically involved in the regulation of attachment and interpersonal function. In this study, emotional children’s movies were used to stimulate OXT secretion in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, associations of OXT levels with measures of attachment style (Psychosis Attachment Measure), childhood adversity (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and symptom severity [Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)] were considered. Methods In 35 patients with schizophrenia and 35 matched HCs, radioimmunoassay with sample extraction was used to determine OXT plasma levels before and after viewing of movie scenes portraying emotional bonding and loss and compared to a non-emotional condition. Results Statistical analysis indicated lower baseline OXT levels in female patients than in all other groups. OXT reactivity during emotional movies was significantly higher in patients when compared to HCs. OXT reactivity during the control movie related to PANSS `general psychopathology’. No significant associations appeared between baseline or induced OXT levels and other PANSS subscales, attachment style or childhood adversity in patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest differences of baseline OXT and a higher OXT reactivity toward strong emotional stimuli in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role of OXT as a gender- and context-dependent modulator of socio-emotional function.
ISSN:1749-5016
1749-5024
DOI:10.1093/scan/nsy110