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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 37 · 2003

4 results

Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress.

Heinrichs M, Baumgartner T, Kirschbaum C, Ehlert U

Biological psychiatry1 Dec 2003Cited by 1,264 (Europe PMC)

PMID14675803 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00465-7 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-14675803
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test, intranasal oxytocin had an anxiolytic effect on pre- to poststress anxiety.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under stress, oxytocin sprayed in the nose lowered anxiety compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreasePre- to poststress anxiety
    Study

    n = 37

    Comparator
    Placebo, with or without social support
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Comparisons of pre- and poststress anxiety levels revealed an anxiolytic effect of oxytocin.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 37 healthy men were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test.
    Summary · context
    All participants were randomly assigned to receive intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support from their best friend during the preparation period or no social support.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men under psychosocial stress, oxytocin combined with social support gave the lowest salivary cortisol concentrations.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under stress, oxytocin plus support from a friend gave the lowest cortisol levels of all groups.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseSalivary cortisol during stress, oxytocin plus social support
    Study

    n = 37

    Comparator
    oxytocin alone, placebo with social support, and placebo without social support
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    More importantly, the combination of oxytocin and social support exhibited the lowest cortisol concentrations as well as increased calmness and decreased anxiety during stress.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 37 healthy men were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test.
    Summary · context
    All participants were randomly assigned to receive intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support from their best friend during the preparation period or no social support.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men under psychosocial stress, oxytocin combined with social support increased calmness.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under stress, oxytocin plus support from a friend made them feel calmer.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCalmness during stress, oxytocin plus social support
    Study

    n = 37

    Comparator
    oxytocin alone, placebo with social support, and placebo without social support
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    More importantly, the combination of oxytocin and social support exhibited the lowest cortisol concentrations as well as increased calmness and decreased anxiety during stress.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 37 healthy men were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test.
    Summary · context
    All participants were randomly assigned to receive intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support from their best friend during the preparation period or no social support.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men under psychosocial stress, oxytocin combined with social support decreased anxiety.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under stress, oxytocin plus support from a friend lowered anxiety.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseAnxiety during stress, oxytocin plus social support
    Study

    n = 37

    Comparator
    oxytocin alone, placebo with social support, and placebo without social support
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    More importantly, the combination of oxytocin and social support exhibited the lowest cortisol concentrations as well as increased calmness and decreased anxiety during stress.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 37 healthy men were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test.
    Summary · context
    All participants were randomly assigned to receive intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support from their best friend during the preparation period or no social support.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials3

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

3 trials · 1 completed · 1 stopped early · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 1NCT03060031

Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin Administration on Social Influence Effects on Pain

University of Colorado, Bouldern = 5121 Jun 2017 to 1 Apr 2019

Pain

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 25 Jun 2019
WithdrawnPhase 1NCT01912378

Triadic Interactions of Families With Autism and Oxytocin

University of California, San Franciscon = 0Aug 2013 to May 2015

Autism Disorder

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 16 Jan 2019
Status unknownNot applicableNCT01039766

The Efficacy of a Single Dose of Intranasal Oxytocin in the Prevention of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Sheba Medical Centern = 24Feb 2010 to est. Jun 2011

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 9 Feb 2010

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:50 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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