Oxytocin, a hormone that is believed to help people form emotional bonds with each other, could also be effective in treating people with schizophrenia, autism and other psychiatric disorders related to social interaction.
Some scientific studies have recently suggested that that puffs of oxytocin into the nose may reduce the symptoms of those suffering from these disorders. The hormone could improve their ability to function, and also enhance their abilities to recognize others' emotions.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
“Oxytocin, produced both by men and women, is nicknamed the ‘love hormone’ because of its apparent role in building trust between people. Women, for instance produce large amounts of oxytocin during labor preceding childbirth, presumably to foster bonding with the newborn. The hormone works by helping neurons in the brain talk to each other, although the exact mechanism isn't understood.”