Neurobiological Effects of Oxytocin in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia group Inclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder 2. Males between 18 and 45 years 3. capacity to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. current comorbid axis I diagnosis and no alcohol/substance abuse/dependence in the last 12 months (except nicotine) 2. Contraindication to oxytocin like hypersensitivity, vascular disease, chronic nephritis, epilepsy, asthma 3. Contraindication to MRI like implants/claustrophobia 4. Past history of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness or neurosurgery 5. Concomitant severe medical conditions 6. On treatment with benzodiazepine medications for at least 8 weeks 7. Contraindication to Positron emission tomography Healthy volunteers Inclusion Criteria: 1. Males between 18 and 45 years 2. capacity to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric illness including substance dependence 2. contraindication to oxytocin like hypersensitivity, vascular disease, chronic nephritis, epilepsy, asthma 3. contraindication to MRI like implants/claustrophobia 4. past history of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness or neurosurgery 5. concomitant severe medical conditions 6. on treatment with benzodiazepine medications for at least 8 weeks 7. contraindication to Positron emission tomography 8. Family history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorder in family member