Intranasal Oxytocin as Add-On Treatment for Inpatients with Severe Mental Illness: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Ariella Grossman-Giron, Hagai Maoz, Uri Nitzan, Yogev Kivity, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Yuval Bloch, Shlomo Mendlovic, Dana TzurBitan

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9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, several studies were conducted to explore the potential augmenting effect of oxytocin for the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness. Nonetheless, studies exploring its effects in routine inpatient settings using high-quality randomized controlled trials are scarce. The current study assessed the effect of oxytocin administration on treatment process and outcome among psychiatric inpatients, while employing a rigorous experimental methodology. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was conducted at a public psychiatric hospital in Israel. Patients (N = 87, 71.3% female participants) were administered intranasal oxytocin/placebo twice daily for 4 weeks, as add-on to usual care. Patients were assessed for severity of anxiety and depression symptoms and their working alliance with their therapist after each therapy session, and treatment outcome was assessed weekly. Multilevel modeling was performed to assess the linear change from pre- to post-treatment. Results: Patients receiving OT demonstrated significantly larger symptomatic improvements (B = -0.01, t [437] = -2.36, p = 0.01). Larger gains were also observed for depression (B = -0.14, p < 0.001 in the OT group, B = -0.06, p = 0.02 in the placebo group) and general distress (B = -0.57, p < 0.001 in the OT group, B = -0.29, p = 0.02 in the placebo group). No significant effect was observed for anxiety, the working alliance, or attachment. Discussion: Oxytocin has the potential to improve treatment outcome among inpatients. Nonetheless, additional controlled research is needed to further assess its effects on therapy process, as well as to account for therapeutic, pharmacological, and neuronal intervening factors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14-23
Number of pages10
JournalNeuropsychobiology
Volume82
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel. Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Funding

The study was supported by a research grant from the American Psychological Foundation. Sponsors had no role in the in the preparation of data or the manuscript. The authors of this manuscript have no conflict of interest to declare with regard to this manuscript. Other financial relations are as follows: Dr. Yogev Kivity received a research grant from the Israel Science Foundation and the Data Science Institute, Bar-Ilan University. Dr. Shlomo Mendlovic and Prof. Yuval Bloch received a research grant from the Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research. Prof. Dana Tzur Bitan received a research grant from Pfizer and from the American Psychological Foundation. All other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

FundersFunder number
American Psychological Foundation
Pfizer
Data Science Institute, Columbia University
Bar-Ilan University
Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research
Israel Science Foundation

    Keywords

    • Hormones
    • Mental illness
    • Neurophysiology
    • Neuropsychology
    • Oxytocin
    • Psychotherapy

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