Study of Oxytocin in Autism to Improve Reciprocal Social Behaviors

Inclusion Criteria: * Be between the ages of 3 years 0 months and 17 years 11 months at the time of randomization * Be diagnosed by clinician experienced in assessment of ASD with autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, or PDD-NOS using DSM-V-TR criteria * Must have clinical diagnosis of ASD confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS, Lord et al., 2001) * Must have clinical diagnosis of ASD confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R, Rutter, 2003). ASD criteria proposed by Risi (2006). Specifically, subject must be within 1 point of autism criteria on both social and communication domains of the ADI or meet autism criteria in one of these ADI domains and come within 2 points of autism criteria in the other * Have a guardian who is able to provide informed consent * If cognitively able, subject must be able to provide informed assent/consent Exclusion Criteria: * Have a known diagnosis of Rett Syndrome or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, or have marked sensory impairment such as deafness or blindness * Have active cardiovascular disease or renal disease that is not controlled by medication * Subjects who are pregnant, lactating, or who refuse to practice contraception if sexually active * Subjects who have had changes in allied health therapies, behavioral or educational interventions within the two months prior to randomization other than those associated with school holidays * Subjects who have had changes in psychiatric medication…