OXYMIND: Oxytocin-augmented Group Psychotherapy for Patients With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ) are severe mental illnesses with a lifetime prevalence of 1-2%. Three core syndromes characterize SCZ: positive and negative syndromes (NS), as well as a cognitive syndrome. The effectiveness of current treatment options for negative symptoms (NS) and sociocognitive deficits in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) remains limited. The cause of NS is thought to be an interference between the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system for social reward expectancy and the network for socioemotional processes. Oxytocin (OXT) may enhance functional connectivity between these neuronal networks. Lower plasma OXT levels correlate negatively with NS severity and deficits in social cognition in SSD. It has been shown that intranasal OXT administration improves social cognition in healthy subjects but in SSD results are inconsistent. According to the social salience hypothesis, the effect of OXT varies depending on the social context and individual factors. Also, OXT-mediated effects on psychopathology and NS may depend on genetic variants of OXT receptors (OXTR). In a pilot study, the investigators demonstrated lower NS by OXT administration in a positive social context of MBGT in SSD. The investigators also demonstrated that NS and other symptoms improved after mindfulness-based group psychotherapy (MBGT). The aim of this study in individuals with SSD is to examine the effect of combining OXT administration with MBGT on NS, affect, and stress. The main hypothesis to be tested is that the use of OXT compared to placebo prior to MBGT in patients with SSD will result in a greater reduction in NS, i.e. the difference in T7 - T0 of the negative syndrome subscale of the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) after 4 weeks. The PANSS as a validated and structured clinical interview will be collected by a blinded psychiatrist. MBGT - sessions by experienced psychotherapists take place over four weeks. These sessions as a positive social context take place once a week in a group of about six patients. Participants received either synthetic oxytocin or a placebo 30 minutes before MBGT. The role of genetic variations (OXTR genes) for the treatment effect on NS will be explored too as well as the effect on various stress markers including cortisol levels and the endocannabinoid system, affect, group cohesion and mindfulness. The research design is based on an experimental, triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.