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Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of life-long neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairments in social communication and by the presence of restricted interests or repetitive behaviors. Several genetic, biological, and psychosocial mechanisms seem to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of this complex condition. Preclinical models have shown a potential role of oxytocin (OT), a peptide involved in a complex range of behaviors, including those related to social interaction. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that OT levels may be decreased in autistic people. Objectives To compare the levels of peripheral OT in autistic people vs neurotypical controls. Methods We performed a systematic literature search up to December 2020 according to PRISMA guidelines. Final inclusion was based on the following criteria: (1) Participants: individuals of any age diagnosed with ASD; (2) Controls: neurotypical subjects; (3) Outcome: OT levels, either in saliva, serum, or plasma; (4) Study design: case-control. Meta-analyses are ongoing. Results We finally included 21 papers published between 1998 and 2020, of which one recruited adult participants. Fifteen studies measured OT levels in plasma, 4 in saliva, and 2 in serum. Preliminary meta-analyses on 10 studies showed that peripheral OT levels in autistic individuals are reduced compared to neurotypical controls, with sex differences. Conclusions Our preliminary findings show that peripheral OT might represent a potential biomarker for ASD. Future well-conducted case-control studies with a detailed phenotypical characterization of samples are needed to understand the role of OT deficits in specific subgroups. Disclosure No significant relationships.

IntroductionPeople with mental disorders may present impairments in cognitive and metacognitive functions. Self-reflection is the ability to reflect on oneself (specifically on one’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts) and insight is the awareness of one’s internal experience. Mindwandering (MW) is defined as the tendency to divert attention from current reality without a clearly defined intention. It can be spontaneous or deliberate. Several studies have investigated these alterations in patients with schizophrenia (SZ), while less is known for people with substance use disorder (SUD).ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to explore self-reflection, insight and MW in a group of patients with SZ and SUD.MethodsThe Self-reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) and the spontaneous (MW-S) and deliberate (MW-D) mindwandering scales were administered to 25 patients with SZ, 21 patients with SUD, and 21 healthy controls (HC). Linear regressions were performed to evaluate the associations between the variables under study.ResultsPreliminary data showed that SZ and SUD patients presented lower SRIS and MW values than HC. Examining MW in detail, participants with SZ reported higher scores at than MW-D, while in people with SUD, MW-D scores were higher than MW-S scores. Linear regressions revealed that MW-D was negatively associated with self-reflection in SUD; moreover, insight scores were negatively associated with MW-S in SZ.ConclusionsOur preliminary results confirm the importance of acting on the elements of metacognition in patients with mental disorders to improve the general outcome of the disease. A comprehensive therapeutic approach should include psychotherapeutic and social interventions aimed at increasing attention and introspection.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

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