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Lee-Cheong S, Ludgate SA, Epp TCM, Schütz CG. The effectiveness of oxytocin in the treatment of stimulant use disorders: a systematic review. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:381-392. [PMID: 37462158 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review is to examine human study evidence on the effectiveness of oxytocin in this patient population. Despite stimulant use disorder being a major public health concern, there are no validated pharmacological treatments. Psychosocial interventions show limited effectiveness especially in the more severe cases of stimulant use disorder, whereas animal models suggest that oxytocin may be a useful treatment. METHODS A literature search using Medline, Embase, and PsychInfo was undertaken. Search results were subsequently imported into Covidence to identify relevant studies. RESULTS Six studies were included in this review, two of which were pilot studies. Although oxytocin was well tolerated across studies, no study showed a statistically significant reduction in reported cocaine use or cravings. One study suggested oxytocin increased the desire to use cocaine, although the population of participants should be taken into consideration. In contrast, one study showed a trend towards reduced self-reported cocaine use. CONCLUSION Available research does not support the use of oxytocin in the management of stimulant use disorder; however, included studies are small in sample size and limited in number. There were several noteworthy findings unrelated to this review's primary and secondary outcomes, which are of interest and warrant further research. We provide suggestions for future studies in this area of research. Considering the limited data available at this time, further studies are required before any definitive conclusions can be made regarding the use of oxytocin in stimulant use disorder management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Lee-Cheong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Department of Public Health, King's College London, Strand, London, UK
| | - Sacha A Ludgate
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
| | - Tanisse C M Epp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
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2
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Marazziti D, Carter CS, Carmassi C, Della Vecchia A, Mucci F, Pagni G, Carbone MG, Baroni S, Giannaccini G, Palego L, Dell’Osso L. Sex matters: The impact of oxytocin on healthy conditions and psychiatric disorders. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 13:100165. [PMID: 36590869 PMCID: PMC9800179 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is involved in the regulation of physiological processes and emotional states, with increasing evidence for its beneficial actions being mediated by the autonomic and immune systems. Growing evidence suggests that OT plays a role in the pathophysiology of different psychiatric disorders. Given the limited information in humans the aim of this study was to retrospectively explore plasma OT levels in psychiatric patients, particularly focusing on sex-related differences, as compared with healthy controls. The patients studied here were divided into three groups diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Plasma OT levels were significantly different between healthy men and women, with the latter showing higher values, while none of the three psychiatric groups showed sex-related differences in the parameters measured here. The intergroup analyses showed that the OT levels were significantly higher in OCD, lower in PTSD and even more reduced in MDD patients than in healthy subjects. These differences were also confirmed when gender was considered, with the exception of PTSD men, in whom OT levels were similar to those of healthy men. The present results indicated that OT levels were higher amongst healthy women than men, while a sex difference was less apparent or reversed in psychiatric patients. Reductions in sex differences in psychopathologies may be related to differential vulnerabilities in processes associated with basic adaptive and social functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy,Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences – UniCamillus, Rome, Italy,Corresponding author. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 57, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
| | - C. Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Claudia Carmassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Federico Mucci
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Italy,Department of Psychiatry, North-Western Tuscany Region NHS Local Health Unit, Lucca Zone, Lucca, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pagni
- Department of Psychiatry, North-Western Tuscany Region NHS Local Health Unit, Lunigiana Zone, Aulla, Italy
| | - Manuel G. Carbone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Stefano Baroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Liliana Dell’Osso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
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Rethinking the Architecture of Attachment: New Insights into the Role for Oxytocin Signaling. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2022; 3:734-748. [PMID: 36519145 PMCID: PMC9743890 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00142-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Social attachments, the enduring bonds between individuals and groups, are essential to health and well-being. The appropriate formation and maintenance of social relationships depend upon a number of affective processes, including stress regulation, motivation, reward, as well as reciprocal interactions necessary for evaluating the affective state of others. A genetic, molecular, and neural circuit level understanding of social attachments therefore provides a powerful substrate for probing the affective processes associated with social behaviors. Socially monogamous species form long-term pair bonds, allowing us to investigate the mechanisms underlying attachment. Now, molecular genetic tools permit manipulations in monogamous species. Studies using these tools reveal new insights into the genetic and neuroendocrine factors that design and control the neural architecture underlying attachment behavior. We focus this discussion on the prairie vole and oxytocinergic signaling in this and related species as a model of attachment behavior that has been studied in the context of genetic and pharmacological manipulations. We consider developmental processes that impact the demonstration of bonding behavior across genetic backgrounds, the modularity of mechanisms underlying bonding behaviors, and the distributed circuitry supporting these behaviors. Incorporating such theoretical considerations when interpreting reverse genetic studies in the context of the rich ethological and pharmacological data collected in monogamous species provides an important framework for studies of attachment behavior in both animal models and studies of human relationships.
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Sherman BJ, Baker NL, Brady KT, Joseph JE, Nunn LM, McRae-Clark A. The effect of oxytocin, gender, and ovarian hormones on stress reactivity in individuals with cocaine use disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:2031-2042. [PMID: 32388622 PMCID: PMC8210538 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05516-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which plays a critical role in the human stress response. Men and women with CUD differ in reactivity to social stressors. The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin is involved in anxiolytic and natural reward processes, and has shown therapeutic potential for addictive disorders and stress reduction. OBJECTIVES To examine the impact of oxytocin (oxytocin (OXY) vs. placebo (PBO)) and gender (female (F) vs. male (M)) on response to a social stress task in individuals with CUD. To explore whether ovarian hormones moderate this stress response. METHODS One hundred twelve adults with CUD were randomized to receive 40 IU intranasal oxytocin (n = 56) or matching placebo (n = 56). Forty minutes after drug administration, participants were exposed to a social stressor. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine neuroendocrine (cortisol) and subjective (craving, stress) response at pre-stressor, stressor + 0, + 10, + 30, + 60 min. RESULTS Gender moderated the effect of oxytocin on neuroendocrine response (p = 0.048); women receiving oxytocin (F + OXY) showed blunted cortisol response compared to the other three groups (F + PBO; M + OXY; M + PBO). There was a main effect of gender on subjective stress response; women reported greater stress following the stressor compared to men (p = 0.016). Oxytocin had no significant effect on craving or stress, and gender did not moderate the effect of oxytocin on either measure. Higher endogenous progesterone was associated with lower craving response in women (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS Oxytocin may have differential effects in men and women with CUD. Women may be at greater risk for relapse in response to social stressors, but ovarian hormones may attenuate this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Sherman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 190, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Nathaniel L Baker
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Kathleen T Brady
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 190, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jane E Joseph
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Lisa M Nunn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 190, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Aimee McRae-Clark
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 190, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
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5
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Tsai TY, Tseng HH, Chi MH, Chang HH, Wu CK, Yang YK, Chen PS. The Interaction of Oxytocin and Social Support, Loneliness, and Cortisol Level in Major Depression. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 17:487-494. [PMID: 31671485 PMCID: PMC6852675 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2019.17.4.487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective Loneliness is a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. The present study examined whether the serum oxytocin level would interact with social support and buffers loneliness and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Twenty-six patients with MDD (male:female = 3:23; mean age, 45.54 ± 12.97 years) were recruited. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale and self-reported Measurement of Support Function Questionnaire were administered. Serum oxytocin and cortisol levels were assessed using a commercial immunoassay kits. Results In MDD patients, a negative association was found between degrees of social support and loneliness (β = −0.39, p = 0.04). The interaction between social support and serum oxytocin level was negatively associated with loneliness (β = −0.50, p = 0.017) and serum cortisol level (β = −0.55, p = 0.020) after adjusting for age. Follow-up analyses showed that the association between higher social support and lower loneliness was observed only in the higher-oxytocin group (r = −0.75, p = 0.003) but not in the lower group (r = −0.19, p = 0.53). The significance remained after further adjusting for sex and depression severity. Conclusion Low oxytocin level is a vulnerability factor for the buffering effect of social support for loneliness and aberrant HPA-axis activity in MDD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Yu Tsai
- Departments of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Hsuan Tseng
- Departments of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.,Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Mei Hung Chi
- Departments of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Hui Hua Chang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Pharmacy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.,Departments of Pharmacy National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Kuan Wu
- Departments of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Yen Kuang Yang
- Departments of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.,Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po See Chen
- Departments of Psychiatry National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.,Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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6
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Joseph JE, McRae-Clark A, Sherman BJ, Baker NL, Moran-Santa Maria M, Brady KT. Neural correlates of oxytocin and cue reactivity in cocaine-dependent men and women with and without childhood trauma. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019:10.1007/s00213-019-05360-7. [PMID: 31701163 PMCID: PMC8815182 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05360-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Women with cocaine use disorder have worse treatment outcomes compared with men. Sex differences in cocaine addiction may be driven by differences in neurobiology or stress reactivity. Oxytocin is a potential therapeutic for stress reduction in substance use disorders, but no studies have examined the effect of oxytocin on neural response to drug cues in individuals with cocaine use disorders or potential sex differences in this response. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to examine the effect of intranasal oxytocin on cocaine cue reactivity in cocaine dependence, modulated by gender and history of childhood trauma. METHODS Cocaine-dependent men with (n = 24) or without (n = 19) a history of childhood trauma and cocaine-dependent women with (n = 16) or without (n = 8) a history of childhood trauma completed an fMRI cocaine cue reactivity task under intranasal placebo or oxytocin (40 IU) on two different days. fMRI response was measured in the right amygdala and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC). RESULTS In the DMPFC, oxytocin reduced fMRI response to cocaine cues across all subject groups. However, in the amygdala, only men with a history of childhood trauma showed a significantly reduced fMRI response to cocaine cues on oxytocin versus placebo, while women with a history of childhood trauma showed an enhanced amygdala response to cocaine cues following oxytocin administration. Cocaine-dependent subjects with no history of childhood trauma showed no effect of oxytocin on amygdala response. CONCLUSIONS Oxytocin can reduce cue reactivity in cocaine dependence, but its effect is modified by sex and childhood trauma history. Whereas men with cocaine dependence may benefit from oxytocin administration, additional studies are needed to determine whether oxytocin can be an effective therapeutic for cocaine-dependent women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E Joseph
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Clinical Sciences Building Room 325E, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Aimee McRae-Clark
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Clinical Sciences Building Room 325E, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Brian J Sherman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Clinical Sciences Building Room 325E, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Nathaniel L Baker
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Clinical Sciences Building Room 325E, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Megan Moran-Santa Maria
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Clinical Sciences Building Room 325E, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Kathleen T Brady
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Clinical Sciences Building Room 325E, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
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7
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Joseph JE, Vaughan BK, Camp CC, Baker NL, Sherman BJ, Moran-Santa Maria M, McRae-Clark A, Brady KT. Oxytocin-Induced Changes in Intrinsic Network Connectivity in Cocaine Use Disorder: Modulation by Gender, Childhood Trauma, and Years of Use. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:502. [PMID: 31379621 PMCID: PMC6658612 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a major public health concern with devastating social, economic, and mental health implications. A better understanding of the underlying neurobiology and phenotypic variations in individuals with CUD is necessary for the development of effective and targeted treatments. In this study, 39 women and 54 men with CUD completed a 6-min resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan after intranasal oxytocin (OXY) or placebo administration. Graph-theory network analysis was used to quantify functional connectivity changes caused by OXY in striatum, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insula, and amygdala nodes of interest. OXY increased connectivity in the right ACC and left amygdala in males, whereas OXY increased connectivity in the right ACC and right accumbens in females. Machine learning was then used to associate treatment response (placebo minus OXY) in nodes of interest with years of cocaine use and severity of childhood trauma separately for males and females. Childhood trauma and years of cocaine use were associated with OXY-induced changes in ACC connectivity for both men and women, but connectivity changes in the amygdala were associated with years of cocaine use in men and connectivity changes in the right insula were associated with years of cocaine use in women. These findings suggest that salience network nodes (ACC and insula) are potential OXY treatment targets in CUD, with the amygdala as a treatment target for men and the accumbens as a treatment target for women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E. Joseph
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Brandon K. Vaughan
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Christopher C. Camp
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Nathaniel L. Baker
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Brian J. Sherman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Megan Moran-Santa Maria
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Aimee McRae-Clark
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Kathleen T. Brady
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
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8
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Witter RZ, McKenzie L, Stinson KE, Scott K, Newman LS, Adgate J. The use of health impact assessment for a community undergoing natural gas development. Am J Public Health 2013; 103:1002-10. [PMID: 23597363 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2012.301017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The development of natural gas wells is rapidly increasing, yet little is known about associated exposures and potential public health consequences. We used health impact assessment (HIA) to provide decision-makers with information to promote public health at a time of rapid decision making for natural gas development. We have reported that natural gas development may expose local residents to air and water contamination, industrial noise and traffic, and community changes. We have provided more than 90 recommendations for preventing or decreasing health impacts associated with these exposures. We also have reflected on the lessons learned from conducting an HIA in a politically charged environment. Finally, we have demonstrated that despite the challenges, HIA can successfully enhance public health policymaking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Z Witter
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
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9
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The suggestion that the neurohormone oxytocin may have clinical application in the treatment of schizophrenia was first published in 1972. Since then, a considerable body of research on a variety of fronts--including several recent double-blind treatment trials-has buttressed these early reports, providing support for the assertion that the oxytocin system is a promising and novel therapeutic target for this devastating malady. Herein, we review the diverse, convergent lines of evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of oxytocin in psychotic illness. METHODS We performed a systematic review of preclinical and clinical literature pertaining to oxytocin's role in schizophrenia. RESULTS Multiple lines of evidence converge to support the antipsychotic potential of oxytocin. These include several animal models of schizophrenia, pharmacological studies examining the impact of antipsychotics on the oxytocin system, human trials in patients examining aspects of the oxytocin system, and several double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical treatment trials. CONCLUSIONS There exists considerable, convergent evidence that oxytocin has potential as a novel antipsychotic with a unique mechanism of action. Auspiciously, based on the few chronic trials to date, its safety profile and tolerability appear very good. That said, several critical clinical questions await investigation before widespread use is clinically warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Macdonald
- University of California, San Diego Medical Center Department of Psychiatry
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10
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Kubzansky LD, Mendes WB, Appleton AA, Block J, Adler GK. A heartfelt response: Oxytocin effects on response to social stress in men and women. Biol Psychol 2012; 90:1-9. [PMID: 22387929 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal research indicates that oxytocin is involved in social behavior, stress regulation, and positive physiologic adaptation. This study examines whether oxytocin enhances adaptive responses to social stress and compares effects between men and women. METHODS Hypotheses were tested with a placebo-controlled, double-blind experiment. Social stress was induced. Changes in cardiovascular reactivity, affect, and behavior were assessed. RESULTS Participants given oxytocin, relative to placebo, responded to social stress with a challenge orientation characterized by a benign pattern of cardiovascular reactivity. Gender differences emerged. Men given oxytocin reported less negative affect and had greater vagal rebound, while women given oxytocin reported more anger and had better math performance following social stress. DISCUSSION Findings indicate oxytocin stimulates an approach-oriented cardiovascular profile during social stress, suggesting mechanisms by which oxytocin might improve physical health. However, before considering oxytocin as therapeutic or uniformly enhancing health, greater understanding of possible gender differences in effects is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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11
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Striepens N, Kendrick KM, Maier W, Hurlemann R. Prosocial effects of oxytocin and clinical evidence for its therapeutic potential. Front Neuroendocrinol 2011; 32:426-50. [PMID: 21802441 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 07/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There has been unprecedented interest in the prosocial effects of the neuropeptide oxytocin in humans over the last decade. A range of studies has demonstrated correlations between basal oxytocin levels and the strength of social and bonding behaviors both in healthy individuals and in those suffering from psychiatric disorders. Mounting evidence suggests associations between polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene and prosocial behaviors and there may also be important epigenetic effects. Many studies have now reported a plethora of prosocial effects of intranasal application of oxytocin, including the domains of trust, generosity, socially reinforced learning, and emotional empathy. The main focus of this review will be to summarize human preclinical work and particularly the rapidly growing number of clinical studies which have identified important links between oxytocin and a wide range of psychiatric disorders, and have now started to directly assess its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Striepens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany
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12
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Nolte T, Guiney J, Fonagy P, Mayes LC, Luyten P. Interpersonal stress regulation and the development of anxiety disorders: an attachment-based developmental framework. Front Behav Neurosci 2011; 5:55. [PMID: 21960962 PMCID: PMC3177081 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders represent a common but often debilitating form of psychopathology in both children and adults. While there is a growing understanding of the etiology and maintenance of these disorders across various research domains, only recently have integrative accounts been proposed. While classical attachment history has been a traditional core construct in psychological models of anxiety, contemporary attachment theory has the potential to integrate neurobiological and behavioral findings within a multidisciplinary developmental framework. The current paper proposes a modern attachment theory-based developmental model grounded in relevant literature from multiple disciplines including social neuroscience, genetics, neuroendocrinology, and the study of family factors involved in the development of anxiety disorders. Recent accounts of stress regulation have highlighted the interplay between stress, anxiety, and activation of the attachment system. This interplay directly affects the development of social-cognitive and mentalizing capacities that are acquired in the interpersonal context of early attachment relationships. Early attachment experiences are conceptualized as the key organizer of a complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and epigenetic contributions to the development of anxiety disorders - a multifactorial etiology resulting from dysfunctional co-regulation of fear and stress states. These risk-conferring processes are characterized by hyperactivation strategies in the face of anxiety. The cumulative allostatic load and subsequent "wear and tear" effects associated with hyperactivation strategies converge on the neural pathways of anxiety and stress. Attachment experiences further influence the development of anxiety as potential moderators of risk factors, differentially impacting on genetic vulnerability and relevant neurobiological pathways. Implications for further research and potential treatments are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Nolte
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College LondonLondon, UK
- Developmental Neuroscience Unit, Anna Freud Centre, University College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Jo Guiney
- Royal Holloway, University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College LondonLondon, UK
- Developmental Neuroscience Unit, Anna Freud Centre, University College LondonLondon, UK
| | - Linda C. Mayes
- Developmental Neuroscience Unit, Anna Freud Centre, University College LondonLondon, UK
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT, USA
| | - Patrick Luyten
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College LondonLondon, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of LeuvenLeuven, Belgium
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