The Role of Neurohypophyseal Hormones Vasopressin and Oxytocin in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Although the neurohypophyseal hormones vasopressin and oxytocin are mostly known for their role respectively in antiduresis the former and in labour, lactation and maternal behavior the latter, both might exert widespread influences either on emotion and cognition in healthy subjects, showing some gender-related differences. They interact one each other facilitating shifts between positive socially- oriented and defensive states. In fact, vasopressin amplifies the reactivity to stressors showing also beneficial effects on attention, verbal learning as well as memory, whereas oxytocin reduces the amplitude of the stress response, improves emotion processing, and can play a negative effect on memory and verbal learning in healthy individuals. Several data indicate the possible involvement of this neuropeptides in the pathophysiology of psychiatric conditions involving social interactions, such as autism, as well as in schizophrenia and depression. Aim of this paper is to review the literature dealing with the role played by neurohypophyseal hormones in neuropsychiatric disorders.