The Role of Pharmacotherapy in Social Cognition, Empathy, and Serum Oxytocin Levels in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case–Control Study

TL;DR

Medications like methylphenidate and atomoxetine improve social skills in children with ADHD, but do not significantly affect empathy or oxytocin levels.

Contribution

This study is the first to compare the effects of methylphenidate and atomoxetine on social cognition, empathy, and oxytocin levels in children with ADHD.

Findings

Medicated children showed improved social skills, regardless of medication type.

Atomoxetine was specifically linked to better social cognition performance.

Empathy and serum oxytocin levels were not significantly affected by medication.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
In children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), regular pharmacological treatment with either methylphenidate (MPH) or atomoxetine (ATX) was associated with significant improvements in social skills, with ATX specifically linked to enhanced social cognition performance.Empathy (BEI scores) and serum oxytocin levels did not significantly differ across treatment and control groups.

In children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), regular pharmacological treatment with either methylphenidate (MPH) or atomoxetine (ATX) was associated with significant improvements in social skills, with ATX specifically linked to enhanced social cognition performance.

Empathy (BEI scores) and serum oxytocin levels did not significantly differ across treatment and control groups.

What are the implications of the main findings?
The findings suggest that pharmacotherapy may improve social cognition, though long-term effects on empathy or serum oxytocin levels remain unclear.

The findings suggest that pharmacotherapy may improve social cognition, though long-term effects on empathy or serum oxytocin levels remain unclear.

Background/Objectives: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized for its impact on social functioning, including deficits in social cognition and empathy. Emerging neurobiological evidence highlights the potential role of oxytocin in these impairments. However, the influence of pharmacotherapy, particularly methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX), on these domains remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the effects of MPH and ATX on social cognition, empathy, and serum oxytocin levels in children with ADHD. Methods: This study included 152 children aged 6–12 years diagnosed solely with ADHD. The patient group consisted of 102 children, comprising n = 52 receiving MPH and n = 50 receiving ATX for at least 3 months. The control group comprised 50 newly diagnosed, untreated children. A sociodemographic form, the Social Skills Rating Scale (SRSS), the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), the Bryant Empathy Index (BEI), and the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Questionnaire (SNAP-IV) were applied. Serum oxytocin levels were measured via venous blood samples. Results: Medicated children exhibited significantly elevated SRSS scores, irrespective of the pharmacotherapy administered. RMET scores were significantly higher in the ATX group. No significant differences were found between the three groups in terms of empathy scores and serum oxytocin levels. A significant negative correlation was identified between ADHD symptom severity and RMET and SRSS-Total scores. Regular medication use was a significant predictor of SRSS scores, while empathy and serum oxytocin levels were nonsignificant predictors. Conclusions: Pharmacotherapy may enhance social cognition among children with ADHD. Longitudinal studies are warranted to assess the long-term effects of medication on social cognition and empathy.

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