From antidepressants and psychotherapy to oxytocin, vagus nerve stimulation, ketamine and psychedelics: how established and novel treatments can improve social functioning in major depression.

Social cognitive deficits and impaired social behavior are common in major depressive disorder and harm quality of life and recovery. Standard treatments like antidepressants, psychotherapies, and brain stimulation show mixed results for improving social functioning, with some limitations and side effects. Newer treatments such as intranasal oxytocin, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy have demonstrated positive effects on social cognition and behavior by modulating self-referential processing, empathy, emotion regulation, and enhancing neuroplasticity. Animal models reveal underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Future research should explore combining treatments and investigate long-term outcomes and individual differences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Social cognitive deficits and social behavior impairments are common in major depressive disorder (MDD) and affect the quality of life and recovery of patients. This review summarizes the impact of standard and novel treatments on social functioning in MDD and highlights the potential of combining different approaches to enhance their effectiveness. Standard treatments, such as antidepressants, psychotherapies, and brain stimulation, have shown mixed results in improving social functioning, with some limitations and side effects. Newer treatments, such as intranasal oxytocin, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, have demonstrated positive effects on social cognition and behavior by modulating self-referential processing, empathy, and emotion regulation and through enhancement of neuroplasticity. Animal models have provided insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these treatments, such as the role of neuroplasticity. Future research should explore the synergistic effects of combining different treatments and investigate the long-term outcomes and individual differences in response to these promising interventions.