Salivary Oxytocin in Anxiety in Children

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders represent a significant group of mental health conditions among children, often characterized by  substantial impairment and distress. Emerging research suggests that salivary oxytocin could be a potential biomarker for anxiety due to  its role in stress regulation and social behaviour.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between salivary oxytocin levels  and different anxiety disorders in children.

Methods: This case-control study included 126 children diagnosed with different anxiety  disorders based on DSM-5 criteria and 60 healthy controls, aged 6-12 years. Anxiety assessments utilized multiple scales including the  MINI-KID, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and others. Salivary oxytocin levels were measured using a specific ELISA kit.

Results: Salivary  oxytocin levels were significantly higher in children with anxiety disorders compared to controls. ROC analysis indicated high sensitivity  and specificity with optimal cutoff values for distinguishing between affected and non-affected subjects. Logistic regression highlighted  the influence of several socio-demographic factors on anxiety presence.

Conclusions: Elevated salivary oxytocin levels are significantly  associated with anxiety disorders in children, with high diagnostic accuracy. This study confirmed the potential of salivary oxytocin as a  reliable biomarker for identifying and differentiating anxiety disorders in the pediatric population, underscoring the importance of socio- demographic contexts in its expression.