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

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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.

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Abbreviations

BGQ:

Brown Goodwin questionnaire

CD:

Conduct disorder

CP:

Conduct problems

CU:

Callous-unemotional

ICU:

Inventory of callous-unemotional traits

OT:

Oxytocin

OXTR:

Oxytocin receptor

SDQ:

Strength and difficulties questionnaire

SNP:

Single nucleotide polymorphism

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shalvata Mental Health Center, 45100, Hod Hasharon, Israel

    Tomer Levy & Yuval Bloch

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Tomer Levy, Yuval Bloch, Meytal Bar-Maisels, Galia Gat-Yablonski & Alan Apter

  3. The Jesse Z and Sara Lea Shafer Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes National Center for Childhood Diabetes; Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, 49202, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Meytal Bar-Maisels & Galia Gat-Yablonski

  4. Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, 49202, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Meytal Bar-Maisels & Galia Gat-Yablonski

  5. Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology and Diabetes, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Galia Gat-Yablonski

  6. Feinberg Child Study Center, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, 49202, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Galia Gat-Yablonski & Alan Apter

  7. Department of Psychology and The Gonda Brain Sciences Center, Bar-Ilan University, 52900, Ramat-Gan, Israel

    Amir Djalovski

  8. Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Lehman College, The City University of New York, New York, NY, 10468, USA

    Katy Borodkin

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  1. Tomer Levy
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Correspondence to Tomer Levy.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. The study was funded by the involved medical centers. All authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

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Levy, T., Bloch, Y., Bar-Maisels, M. et al. Salivary oxytocin in adolescents with conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 24, 1543–1551 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0765-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0765-6

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