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

Abstract

BackgroundOxytocin (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.MethodsIn 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.ResultsStatistical 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.ConclusionsOur 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.

Peripheral oxytocin is inversely correlated with cognitive, but not emotional empathy in schizophrenia

“…In contrast, a study carried out by this work group found pronounced OXT increases in schizophrenia patients, but not in healthy controls after exposure to children's movie scenes of attachment and loss [30]. Results of this study [30] also confirm that movie clips are a highly effective tool to elicit emotions and empathy in patients with schizophrenia as in other population [31], although few studies have examined the OXT response to emotional videos in non-clinical [32][33][34][35] or clinical populations [30] and show overall inconclusive results. In healthy women, a decrease of OXT after positive and unchanged OXT levels after negative emotions could be observed [32].…”

“…Evidence is equally scarce and contradictory with respect to OXT reactivity in response to socio-emotional stimuli: Following trust-related interactions, healthy controls displayed increased OXT levels, whereas this effect was not observed in patients with schizophrenia, with low OXT levels predicting social withdrawal [29]. In contrast, a study carried out by this work group found pronounced OXT increases in schizophrenia patients, but not in healthy controls after exposure to children's movie scenes of attachment and loss [30]. Results of this study [30] also confirm that movie clips are a highly effective tool to elicit emotions and empathy in patients with schizophrenia as in other population [31], although few studies have examined the OXT response to emotional videos in non-clinical [32][33][34][35] or clinical populations [30] and show overall inconclusive results.…”

“…The aim of this study was to assess possible associations of basal and induced OXT plasma levels with different dimensions of social cognition, like cognitive and emotional empathy, in patients with schizophrenia, extending the experiment reported by Speck et al [30]. As no assumptions could be made about the direction of such a connection based on previous research, it was hypothesized on an exploratory basis that baseline OXT levels as well as OXT level changes in response to children's movies of attachment and loss would be associated with cognitive and emotional empathy, and that these associations would differ between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.…”

“…In previous studies, two different measures of OXT have been taken: 1) plasma levels, reflecting trait aspects, and 2) the reactivity of the OXT system, estimated as elevation of OXT levels in response to a stimulus, relative to a basal concentration, reflecting state aspects. While the focus of our previous study [30] was the quantitative OXT reactivity after emotional movies, the objective of the present explorative study was to reach a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of the OXT system and its connection with social cognition and empathy. Therefore, we combined state and trait measures: 1) the reactivity of the endogenous OXT system to movie-based, empathy-eliciting cues, as shown in [30] and 2) baseline endogenous OXT levels.…”

“…While the focus of our previous study [30] was the quantitative OXT reactivity after emotional movies, the objective of the present explorative study was to reach a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of the OXT system and its connection with social cognition and empathy. Therefore, we combined state and trait measures: 1) the reactivity of the endogenous OXT system to movie-based, empathy-eliciting cues, as shown in [30] and 2) baseline endogenous OXT levels. Behavioral correlates of empathy were assessed with two well-established instruments, the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET; [36]) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; [37]).…”