Methods of improving behavioral therapies

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods of using compounds that act to increase oxytocin release, including certain melanocortin receptor agonists, for treating or reducing the severity of psychotherapeutic or social disorders such as autism, and in particular the use of these compounds as an adjunct to psychotherapeutic counseling or behavioral therapy.

1 . A method of improving the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatment comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an oxytocin releasing agent to a subject diagnosed with a psychiatric or behavioral disorder. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is about the time period that behavioral psychotherapeutic counseling is being administered. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the psychiatric disorder is selected from the group consisting of depression, bi-polar disorders, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, agoraphobia, attention deficit syndrome, mid-cycle dysphoria, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's Syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the psychiatric disorder is autism, asperger syndrome, or an autistic spectrum disorder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of presenting a cue associated with the disorder to the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cue is a visual, olfactory, aural, tactile, or gustatory. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cue is in the form of videotapes, digital media, audiotapes, actors, pictures, or slides. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxytocin releasing agent is melanocyte stimulating hormone or analog thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the melanocyte stimulating hormone or analog is a cyclic melanocyte-stimulating hormone, afamelanotide (melanotan I), melanotan II, or bremelanotide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the melanocyte stimulating hormone comprises a peptide sequence HFR (SEQ ID NO: 2). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the melanocyte stimulating hormone comprises a peptide sequence having a D-phenylalanine or D-4-chlorophenylalanine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxytocin releasing agent is a 5-HT 1a or 5-HT 2a/c agonist. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxytocin releasing agent is buspirone, gepirone, tandospirone serotonin, ergine, ergotamine, lysergic acid, lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, 4-hydroxy-dimethyltryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, tenamfetamine, lorcaserin or salts thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method of improving social attachment comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an oxytocin releasing agent to a subject undergoing marital counseling. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the administration is about the time period that marital counseling is being administered. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxytocin releasing agent is a melanocyte stimulating hormone or analogue thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the melanocyte stimulating hormone or analogue is a cyclic amelanocyte-stimulating hormone, afamelanotide (melanotan I), melanotan II, or bremelanotide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the melanocyte stimulating hormone or analogue comprises peptide sequence HFR (SEQ ID NO: 2). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the melanocyte stimulating hormone comprises a peptide sequence having a D-phenylalanine or D-4-chlorophenylalanine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the oxytocin releasing agent is a 5-HT 1a or 5-HT 2a/c agonist.