The two fold role of oxytocin in social developmental disorders: A cause and a remedy?

Early oxytocin administration may be associated with social developmental impairments such as autism spectrum disorders, but oxytocin also shows potential to improve social behaviors in ASD patients. Animal studies reveal contradictory effects of chronic oxytocin exposure, highlighting complex biological mechanisms.

This article is a literature review analyzing recent animal and human studies on the long-term effects of neonatal and chronic oxytocin administration on social development and autism spectrum disorders.

Understanding oxytocin's dual role is crucial for safely using it in obstetrics and exploring its therapeutic potential for social impairments in autism.

The evidence is largely based on animal studies with contradictory results, and human data are methodologically limited, making definitive conclusions difficult.