Oxytocin and Social Cognitive Skills Groups

The study is a proof-of-concept, combination intervention designed to address individual treatment targets presumed to influence social learning in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This proposal builds upon prior research on an empirically supported social cognitive skills training curriculum, NETT (Nonverbal communication, Emotion recognition, and Theory of mind Training). NETT is a cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI) for nonverbal communication, emotion recognition, and theory of mind deficits in youth with ASD. In this two-phase, 3 year, single-blind, contact controlled study, school-aged children with ASD (n=60) will be randomized into a 12-session, parallel group design of Integrated Oxytocin and NETT (ION) or a control social group condition (facilitated play). The study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of integrating the neuropeptide, oxytocin (OXT), with the social cognitive curriculum, as well as to identify targets of change and pre-treatment factors predictive of response to ION-ASD. Maintenance of treatment effects will also be assessed 1 month and 3 months post-treatment.