Intervention: OXYTOCIN
Trial phase: Phase 2
ATC code: H01BB02
SMILES: CC[C@H](C)[C@@H]1NC(=O)[C@H](Cc2ccc(O)cc2)NC(=O)[C@@H](N)CSSC[C@@H](C(=O)N2CCC[C@H]2C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)NCC(N)=O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(N)=O)NC(=O)[C@H](CCC(N)=O)NC1=O
Sex: Male
Age groups: Adult | Older Adult
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Participants at risk: 39
Group description: Participants receiving the intranasal oxytocin intervention received a dose of three 4 IU puffs per nostril for a total dose of 24 IU. Each puff is 0.1ml in volume so the total volume administered was 0.6 ml intranasally.
Eligibility criteria:
Subjects for the study will be forty male VA patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Diagnosis will be determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders/SCID-P (Spitzer et al. 1992). Subjects must be categorized as having a primary deficit syndrome on the Kirkpatrick Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome (Kirkpatrick et al. 1989).

Additional inclusion criteria:

Subjects must be between 18 and 65 years old at the time of study screening.
Subjects must demonstrate adequate decisional capacity, in the judgment of the consenting study staff member, to make a choice about participating in this research study.
Subjects must have been psychiatrically and medically stable for 8 weeks prior to consent in the judgment of the Principal Investigator.
Subjects must have been maintained on a stable treatment of antipsychotics and/or other concomitant psychotropic treatment for at least 6 weeks prior to consent.
Subjects must have no more than a moderate severity rating on hallucinations and unusual thought content as shown by a score of ≤ 4 on the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS).
Subjects must be able to validly complete the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), in the judgment of the consenting study staff person.
Subjects must have the visual, auditory, and motor capacity to use the computer software in the judgment of the consenting study staff person. Visual acuity must be at least 20/30 corrected.
Subjects must have a minimal level of extrapyramidal symptoms as shown by a Simpson-Angus Scale total score of no more than 6.
Subjects must have a minimal level of depressive symptoms as shown by a Calgary Depression Scale (CDSS) total score of no more than 10.

Exclusion criteria:

Female sex
History of bipolar disorder
Active substance dependence within the prior 30 days (cigarette smoking is allowed)
Has had a psychiatric hospitalization in the 8 weeks prior to consent.
Suicidal or homicidal ideation in the previous six months
Subjects who have answered 'yes' to Question 5 (Active Suicidal Ideation with Specific Plan and Intent) on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, C-SSRS, or who have answered 'yes' to any of the suicide-related behaviors (actual attempt, interrupted attempt, aborted attempt, preparatory act or behavior) on the C-SSRS "Suicidal Behavior" portion shall be excluded from the study if ideation or behavior occurred within one month of consent. Subjects excluded for this reason will be referred for appropriate treatment.
History of mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder
History of neurological disorder (e.g., traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder, Parkinson's Disease, dementia), loss of consciousness for more than 10 minutes due to head trauma, known HIV infection, or AIDS
Treatment with a benzodiazepine in the two weeks prior to consent.

Control Participants:

Inclusion Criteria:

Male
Ages 18-65

Exclusion Criteria:

Female
History of a psychotic disorder, or depression requiring medication
Active substance abuse or dependence within the prior 30 days
Medical admission within the past six months

Criteria to rule out subjects with medical problems likely to present a confound:

Known HIV infection or AIDS
History of TBI
Seizure disorder
Known Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia
Minimal cognitive impairment (MCI)
Parkinson's Disease
Unstable medical condition