Relationship Between Oxytocin and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while characterized by attention problems, hyperactivity and impulsivity, essentially is a phenotypically heterogenous disorder. Social cognition disorders are important in ADHD, particularly in children due to their role in difficulties in social relations. Social cognition is crucial for the individual to build relations with others and through such relations inform social behavior. It has been suggested that sub-units of social cognition such as facial recognition and empathy are related to oxytocin. It is thought that individuals diagnosed with ADHD, for whom such skills are less readily available, have difficulties communicating on a social scale. PubMed medical search engine was used to identify the studies and review articles on oxytocin and ADHD. While the oxytocin gene and the oxytocin receptor gene are extensively studied in autism spectrum disorders, data on ADHD is scarce. Oxytocin, known as a mediator of social behavior, also affects the phenotype of ADHD, a disease subject to genetic and environmental influences determining its phenotype and individual case differences.

Keywords

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• oxytocin
• gene