Efficacy and safety of oxytocin augmentation therapy for schizophrenia: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Oya K, Matsuda Y, Matsunaga S, Kishi T, Iwata N

European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience25 Aug 2015Cited by 34 (Europe PMC)

PMID26303414DOI10.1007/s00406-015-0634-9PepBankPUB-26303414

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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 study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. 8 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Oxytocin did not differ from placebo for negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin did not differ from placebo for negative symptoms.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePANSS negative symptoms
Study
n = 214
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Psychiatric symptoms · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.34 SMD
negative symptoms
Source sentences
Summary
and negative symptoms (SMD = -0.34, 95 % CI -0.76 to 0.08, p = 0.12, I (2) = 55 %, N = 7, n = 214
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341404
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Oxytocin did not differ from placebo for positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin did not differ from placebo for positive symptoms.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePANSS positive symptoms
Study
n = 192
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Psychiatric symptoms · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.18 SMD
positive symptoms
Source sentences
Summary
positive symptoms (SMD = -0.18, 95 % CI -0.87 to 0.51, p = 0.60, I (2) = 81 %, N = 6, n = 192
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341403
03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In a sensitivity analysis of studies with oxytocin on consecutive days, oxytocin lowered negative symptoms more than placebo.
In plain wordsIn a sensitivity analysis of trials giving oxytocin on consecutive days, oxytocin lowered negative symptoms more than placebo in people with schizophrenia.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseNegative symptoms, sensitivity analysis of consecutive-day administration
Study
n = 192
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Psychiatric symptoms · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.44 SMD
negative symptoms, consecutive-day studies
Source sentences
Summary
However, a sensitivity analysis including only oxytocin administration on consecutive days studies was superior to placebo in negative symptoms (SMD = -0.44, 95 % CI -0.87 to -0.01, p = 0.04, I (2) = 51 %, N = 6 n = 192).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341405
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
Oxytocin did not differ from placebo for PANSS total symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin did not differ from placebo for total symptom scores.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePANSS total symptoms
Study
n = 162
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Psychiatric symptoms · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.46 SMD
total symptoms
Source sentences
Summary
it was not different from placebo for total symptoms (SMD = -0.46, 95 % CI -1.20 to 0.28, p = 0.22, I (2) = 80 %, N = 6, n = 162
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341402
05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotics, oxytocin lowered PANSS general subscale scores more than placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, oxytocin lowered general symptom scores more than placebo in pooled trials.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreasePANSS general subscale score
Study
n = 112
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Psychiatric symptoms · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.44 SMD
PANSS general subscale
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin was superior to placebo for decreasing the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) general subscale scores (SMD = -0.44, 95 % CI -0.82 to -0.06, p = 0.02, I (2) = 0 %, N = 4, n = 112
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341401
06HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
All-cause discontinuation did not differ significantly between oxytocin and placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, stopping treatment for any reason was not significantly different between oxytocin and placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAll-cause discontinuation
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Relative risk
1.02 RR
all-cause discontinuation
Source sentences
Summary
There were no significant differences for all-cause discontinuation (RR = 1.02) and individual side effects such as headache and dizziness between oxytocin and placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341406
07HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Headache did not differ significantly between oxytocin and placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, headache was not significantly different between oxytocin and placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeHeadache
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
There were no significant differences for all-cause discontinuation (RR = 1.02) and individual side effects such as headache and dizziness between oxytocin and placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341407
08HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
Dizziness did not differ significantly between oxytocin and placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with schizophrenia, dizziness was not significantly different between oxytocin and placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeDizziness
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
There were no significant differences for all-cause discontinuation (RR = 1.02) and individual side effects such as headache and dizziness between oxytocin and placebo.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients' data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oxytocin with placebo.
Summary · context
We included seven RCTs; the total sample size was 206 patients.
Report a problemFND-2630341408

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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.

Version 2Current
9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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Terms as the source lists them.

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