One of the core challenges experienced by people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) relates to the difficulties in interacting socially with other people.  This is related to impairments in initiating and sustaining eye contact, understanding emotions and showing empathy. Currently available treatments for ASD are psycho-educational, quite expensive, and only produce small changes in these critical skills.

The neuropeptide oxytocin occurs naturally in the body and levels increase when we engage in intimate, trusting behaviour with loved ones. Levels of oxytocin are associated with increased levels of eye contact and trust behaviours, and there is emerging evidence that oxytocin decreases repetitive behaviours and improves processing and retention of social information in adults with ASD. As such, there is growing evidence that oxytocin has a fundamental role in increasing social approach behaviours, specifically those behaviours which are lacking or impaired in children with ASD.  

Our team at UNSW has years of experience with the delivery of oxytocin into the bloodstream using a simple nasal spray technology, raising the possibility that oxytocin could be used in day to day treatments.

Our team at UNSW is investigating the use of oxytocin as an adjunctive early intervention for individuals within the ASD.  There are three key strands to our research; (1) to test whether oxytocin facilitates the learning of social interaction training; (2) to test whether there is a relationship between the functioning of the oxytocin receptor gene and treatment outcomes; (3) to investigate the impact of oxytocin on autonomic nervous system in individuals with ASD.      

This research has the potential to innovate the available treatments for ASD. As present we are funded by the NHMRC to conduct the main treatment trial and we are recruiting families from all over NSW via Royal Far West. We do not have funds however, to pay for important medical equipment or helping families come to Sydney to receive the new treatment.  

We need your help to continue with this research.