Clinical Trial: Oxytocin and Social Cognition in Frontotemporal Dementia

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Investigation of the Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Cognition and Emotion Processing in Frontotemporal Dementia

Brief Summary: Investigations into the components of cognition damaged in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) demonstrate that patients with FTD show deficits in facial and verbal expression recognition, lack insight into what others think or might do (theory of mind skills), and in decision making tasks requiring processing of positive versus negative feedback. These cognitive functions are thought to be critical for appropriate social behavioural regulation (Blair, 2003). Recent studies in animal models and humans suggest that the neuropeptide oxytocin is an important mediator of social behavior and that oxytocin may facilitate emotion recognition, theory of mind processing, and prosocial behaviors (Donaldson and Young, 2008). Together, these findings suggest that upregulation of oxytocin dependent mechanisms of social and emotional cognition may be a valuable treatment approach in patients with FTD. The aim of this study is to determine how administration of intranasal oxytocin to patients with frontotemporal dementia affects behavior and processing of specific types of social and emotional information.The investigators' hypothesis is that oxytocin administration will improve emotional and social cognitive deficits in patients with FTD, resulting in improved decision making and behaviour.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Lawson Health Research Institute

Current Primary Outcome: Performance on Emotion Recognition Tasks [ Time Frame: Day of treatment ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Behavioural Ratings of Emotional Sensitivity and Repetitive Behaviours [ Time Frame: One week following treatment ]
  • Side effects [ Time Frame: 1 week after treatment ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Lawson Health Research Institute

Dates:
Date Received: October 23, 2009
Date Started: September 2009
Date Completion:
Last Updated: March 17, 2014
Last Verified: March 2014