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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 23 · 2015

4 results

Intranasal oxytocin administration prior to exposure therapy for arachnophobia impedes treatment response.

Acheson DT, Feifel D, Kamenski M, Mckinney R, Risbrough VB

Depression and anxiety31 Mar 2015Cited by 42 (Europe PMC)

PMID25826649 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1002/da.22362 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-25826649
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 adults with arachnophobia, intranasal oxytocin before exposure therapy tended to impede treatment response on self-reported symptoms at both follow-ups versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn adults with spider phobia, oxytocin before exposure therapy tended to make treatment work less well on symptom reports than placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseTreatment response on self-reported arachnophobia symptoms at 1-week and 1-month follow-up
    Study

    n = 23

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Administration of OT prior to exposure therapy tended to impede treatment response as measured by self-report of symptoms at both follow-up periods.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a small proof-of-concept trial investigating the effect of pretreatment intranasal OT administration on a brief, single-session exposure treatment for arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
    Summary · context
    The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled (n = 13 placebo, 11 females; n = 10 OT, 8 females) with 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with arachnophobia, intranasal oxytocin did not significantly affect behavioral measures of fear versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn adults with spider phobia, oxytocin did not significantly change fear behavior, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeBehavioral measures of fear
    Study

    n = 23

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    OT treatment did not significantly affect behavioral measures of fear.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a small proof-of-concept trial investigating the effect of pretreatment intranasal OT administration on a brief, single-session exposure treatment for arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
    Summary · context
    The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled (n = 13 placebo, 11 females; n = 10 OT, 8 females) with 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with arachnophobia, the oxytocin group trended toward less confidence in the treatment than the placebo group before therapy.

    In plain wordsIn adults with spider phobia, those given oxytocin tended to have less confidence in the treatment than those given placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseConfidence in the treatment
    Study

    n = 23

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Patient-reported outcomes · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Immediately after OT administration but before therapy, the OT group trended toward less confidence in the treatment.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a small proof-of-concept trial investigating the effect of pretreatment intranasal OT administration on a brief, single-session exposure treatment for arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
    Summary · context
    The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled (n = 13 placebo, 11 females; n = 10 OT, 8 females) with 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with arachnophobia, the oxytocin group trended toward lower ratings of therapeutic alliance than the placebo group.

    In plain wordsIn adults with spider phobia, those given oxytocin tended to rate their bond with the therapist lower than those given placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseTherapeutic alliance rating
    Study

    n = 23

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Patient-reported outcomes · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The OT group also trended toward lower ratings of therapeutic alliance than placebo.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a small proof-of-concept trial investigating the effect of pretreatment intranasal OT administration on a brief, single-session exposure treatment for arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
    Summary · context
    The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled (n = 13 placebo, 11 females; n = 10 OT, 8 females) with 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments.

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

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, 01:30 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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