Triadic Interactions of Families With Autism and Oxytocin

Summary

The study will investigate the effects of an intranasal administration of oxytocin (OT) to parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) on the quality of mother-father-child interactions. Physiological and behavioral measures of parent-child triadic interaction quality will be assessed. H1: Parents who receive OT will demonstrate greater parental engagement and nonverbal prosocial behaviors compared to parents who receive placebo. H2: Children with ASD whose parents receive OT will have increased nonverbal prosocial behaviors during the discussion and play tasks compared to children whose parents' receive placebo. H3: Parents who receive OT will demonstrate increased behavioral and physiological synchrony with their child during the discussion and play tasks compared to parents who receive placebo and their child.

Timeline

Start

2013-08

Primary completion

2015-05

Completion

2015-05

Publications

• Background Abidin, R. R. (1995). Parenting Stress Index, Third Edition. Professional Manual. Odessa, FL.: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.
• Background Achenbach, T. (2001). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont.
• Background Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of other in the self scale and the structure of interpersonal closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 596-612.
• Background Bradley MM, Lang PJ. Measuring emotion: the Self-Assessment Manikin and the Semantic Differential. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1994 Mar;25(1):49-59. doi: 10.1016/0005-7916(94)90063-9.
• Background Buchheim A, Heinrichs M, George C, Pokorny D, Koops E, Henningsen P, O'Connor MF, Gundel H. Oxytocin enhances the experience of attachment security. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009 Oct;34(9):1417-22. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.04.002. Epub 2009 May 19.
• Background Busby, D. M., Christensen, C., Crane, D. R., & Larson, J. H. (1995). A revision of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for use with distressed and nondistressed couples: Construct hierarchy and multidimensional scales. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 289-308.
• Background Ditzen B, Schaer M, Gabriel B, Bodenmann G, Ehlert U, Heinrichs M. Intranasal oxytocin increases positive communication and reduces cortisol levels during couple conflict. Biol Psychiatry. 2009 May 1;65(9):728-31. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.10.011. Epub 2008 Nov 22.
• Background Feldman R, Gordon I, Zagoory-Sharon O. The cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans. Horm Behav. 2010 Sep;58(4):669-76. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.005. Epub 2010 Jun 15.
• Background Gordon I, Zagoory-Sharon O, Schneiderman I, Leckman JF, Weller A, Feldman R. Oxytocin and cortisol in romantically unattached young adults: associations with bonding and psychological distress. Psychophysiology. 2008 May;45(3):349-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2008.00649.x. Epub 2008 Feb 4.
• Background Gordon I, Zagoory-Sharon O, Leckman JF, Feldman R. Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans. Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Aug 15;68(4):377-82. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.02.005. Epub 2010 Mar 31.
• Background Gouin JP, Carter CS, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Glaser R, Malarkey WB, Loving TJ, Stowell J, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Marital behavior, oxytocin, vasopressin, and wound healing. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010 Aug;35(7):1082-90. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.01.009. Epub 2010 Feb 9.
• Background Grewen KM, Girdler SS, Amico J, Light KC. Effects of partner support on resting oxytocin, cortisol, norepinephrine, and blood pressure before and after warm partner contact. Psychosom Med. 2005 Jul-Aug;67(4):531-8. doi: 10.1097/01.psy.0000170341.88395.47.
• Background Heinrichs M, Baumgartner T, Kirschbaum C, Ehlert U. Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress. Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Dec 15;54(12):1389-98. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00465-7.
• Background Kerns KA, Aspelmeier JE, Gentzler AL, Grabill CM. Parent-child attachment and monitoring in middle childhood. J Fam Psychol. 2001 Mar;15(1):69-81. doi: 10.1037//0893-3200.15.1.69.
• Background Light KC, Grewen KM, Amico JA. More frequent partner hugs and higher oxytocin levels are linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women. Biol Psychol. 2005 Apr;69(1):5-21. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.11.002. Epub 2004 Dec 29.
• Background MacDonald E, Dadds MR, Brennan JL, Williams K, Levy F, Cauchi AJ. A review of safety, side-effects and subjective reactions to intranasal oxytocin in human research. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Sep;36(8):1114-26. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.02.015. Epub 2011 Mar 23.
• Background Naber F, van Ijzendoorn MH, Deschamps P, van Engeland H, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. Intranasal oxytocin increases fathers' observed responsiveness during play with their children: a double-blind within-subject experiment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010 Nov;35(10):1583-6. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.04.007. Epub 2010 May 8.
• Background Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale. A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401.
• Background Theodoridou A, Rowe AC, Penton-Voak IS, Rogers PJ. Oxytocin and social perception: oxytocin increases perceived facial trustworthiness and attractiveness. Horm Behav. 2009 Jun;56(1):128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.03.019. Epub 2009 Apr 1.
• Background Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1063-70. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.54.6.1063.
• Background Wei M, Russell DW, Mallinckrodt B, Vogel DL. The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR)-short form: reliability, validity, and factor structure. J Pers Assess. 2007 Apr;88(2):187-204. doi: 10.1080/00223890701268041.

Drugs

Indications