Oxytocin Amplifies Negative Response to Ambiguity in Adolescent Females With and Without Eating Disorders

Abstract

Objective

Eating disorders (ED) typically emerge in adolescence, a critical period for brain development and peer bonding. Interpersonal difficulties—particularly social anxiety—frequently co-occur with ED. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that modulates social cognition and linked to prosocial effects. To date, no study has investigated oxytocin's effects on negative interpretation bias toward ambiguous information in adolescents with ED.

Methods

Forty-eight female adolescents aged 16 to 17 years with and without EDs took part in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomised, crossover trial investigating the effects of 24 IU intranasal oxytocin on negative interpretations of ambiguous scenarios. Participants and controls were tested twice, approximately one week apart.

Results

Contrary to hypothesis, oxytocin increased negative interpretations overall (p = 0.019, large effect). Adolescent females with AN or BN made more negative interpretations than controls when presented with ambiguous information. There was no group effect for those who reached or did not reach threshold on an autism screen.

Conclusions

This study suggests adolescents with EDs interpret ambiguous information more negatively than controls and that oxytocin administration amplifies negative responses to ambiguity in adolescent females, including in controls. Research tools that effectively identify these biases would help to widen the scope of ED treatments for adolescents.