introduction
the neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been linked to a wide variety of physiological processes (e.g., water balance and cardiac function) and more recently to complex psychological processes including human social cognition and behavior (15).
Several studies have outlined the potential for utilizing plasma AVP concentrations as a biomarker of disease status in neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia (17,20)