Salivary oxytocin in adolescents with conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits

Abstract

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits correlate with the severity and prognosis of conduct disorder in youth. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has been linked to prosocial behaviors, including empathy and collaboration with others. This study discusses a possible role for OT in the biology of delinquent behavior. We hypothesized that in delinquent youth OT secretion will correlate with the severity of conduct problems and specifically with the level of CU traits. The study group included 67 male adolescents (mean age 16.2 years) undergoing residential treatment, previously assessed by an open clinical interview and history for the psychiatric diagnosis. Staff based Inventory of Callous-Unemotional traits for psychopathy and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire were administered, and patients' medical and social personal files were systematically coded for previous history of antisocial acts using the Brown-Goodwin Questionnaire. Salivary OT was assayed by ELISA. Salivary OT levels were inversely correlated with conduct problems severity on Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (r = -0.27; p ≤ 0.01). Recorded history of antisocial acts did not correlate with current OT levels. Odds ratio (OR) for significant CU traits among subjects with conduct problems was increased in low-OT (OR = 14, p ≤ 0.05) but not in high-OT subjects (OR = 6, p ≥ 0.05). Children with conduct problems and low levels of salivary OT are at risk for significant CU traits. These results suggest a possible role for salivary OT as a biomarker for CU traits and conduct problems severity.

Prosocial Behavior and Depression: a Case for Developmental Gender Differences

“…In general, however, oxytocin signals the presence of a socially relevant stimulus that requires attention and ultimately promotes social affiliation [66•]. The association between oxytocin and prosocial behavior has not been measured during adolescence, although one study shows that adolescent males with higher salivary oxytocin levels report fewer conduct problems [82], which can be cautiously interpreted as more prosocial behavior. Finally, one study reported elevated oxytocin levels in adolescents with treatment-resistant MDD, compared to non-treatment resistant and healthy control adolescents [83•].…”

Influence of perioperative stress on central and peripheral oxytocin and arginine‐vasopressin concentrations

“…Saliva is easy to obtain and the neuropeptides in saliva are reliably measurable . Therefore, salivary biomarkers increase in popularity and are used in a growing number of studies examining different patient populations . In a recent study on neurocritical care patients, we demonstrated a moderate to strong correlation for OXT between the saliva and CSF compartment, whereas plasma OXT did not correlate well with CSF levels .…”

Oxytocin Pathway Genes (CD38, OXTR) and Psychosocial Characteristics Defined According to Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Urban Siberian Adolescents: A School-based Study

“…We were able to find only two studies focused on the role of the oxytocinergic system in assessing the behavior of children that were conducted using the SDQ questionnaire. In their study, Levy et al showed that the concentration of oxytocin in saliva was negatively correlated with the severity of behavioral problems identified by the SDQ questionnaire in 16 -year-old adolescent boys admitted to psychiatric counseling because of antisocial behavior [47]. It was also found that OT production was reduced in adolescents with insufficient emotional response and an unemotional type of character.…”