Intranasal Oxytocin Feasibility and Safety Explored for Challenging Behaviors in Children with ASD and Intellectual Disability

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), particularly when co-occurring with intellectual disability, often present with severe challenging behaviors that significantly impact quality of life for both children and caregivers. Current standard-of-care, primarily psycho-educational measures, frequently falls short in managing these complex behaviors in this specific, vulnerable population. The direct transfer of care methods used in ASD patients without intellectual disability is questionable due to the unique severity and presentation of these behaviors. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide crucial for social cognition and behavior, has shown promise in other ASD contexts, but its utility and safety in this specific demographic remain largely unexplored, creating a critical research gap.