Intranasal Oxytocin Selectively Modulates Social Perception, Craving, and Approach Behavior in Subjects With Alcohol Use Disorder.

Mitchell JM, Arcuni PA, Weinstein D, Woolley JD

Journal of addiction medicine1 May 2016Cited by 77 (Europe PMC)

PMID27159342DOI10.1097/adm.0000000000000213PepBankPUB-27159342

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 study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In individuals with alcohol abuse, oxytocin significantly improved recognition of easier items on a social perception task compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol abuse, oxytocin improved recognition of easier items on a social perception task compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseRecognition of easier items on a social perception task
Study
n = 32
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin significantly improved recognition of easier items on a social perception task
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Social perceptual ability, cue-induced craving, and approach bias for alcohol and appetitive imagery were quantified after intranasal oxytocin and placebo administration to 32 nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol abuse in a double-blind, crossover study.
Report a problemFND-2715934201
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In individuals with alcohol abuse, oxytocin had no significant group-level effect on cue-induced craving compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol abuse, oxytocin did not significantly change craving on average, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeCue-induced alcohol craving, group level
Study
n = 32
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
but had no significant group-level effect on cue-induced craving.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Social perceptual ability, cue-induced craving, and approach bias for alcohol and appetitive imagery were quantified after intranasal oxytocin and placebo administration to 32 nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol abuse in a double-blind, crossover study.
Report a problemFND-2715934202
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In individuals with alcohol abuse, oxytocin significantly reduced the approach bias to appetitive images compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol abuse, oxytocin reduced the pull toward appealing images compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseApproach bias to appetitive images
Study
n = 32
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Subjects did display an approach bias to appetitive images on the placebo day, which was significantly reduced by oxytocin administration.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Social perceptual ability, cue-induced craving, and approach bias for alcohol and appetitive imagery were quantified after intranasal oxytocin and placebo administration to 32 nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol abuse in a double-blind, crossover study.
Report a problemFND-2715934205
04HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In individuals with alcohol abuse, no adverse reactions were observed with oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol abuse, no adverse reactions were seen with oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAdverse reactions
Study
n = 32
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
No adverse reactions were observed.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Social perceptual ability, cue-induced craving, and approach bias for alcohol and appetitive imagery were quantified after intranasal oxytocin and placebo administration to 32 nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol abuse in a double-blind, crossover study.
Report a problemFND-2715934206
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In individuals with alcohol abuse and higher attachment anxiety, oxytocin reduced craving compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol abuse and more attachment anxiety, oxytocin reduced craving compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseCraving in more anxiously attached individuals
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
with oxytocin reducing craving in more anxiously attached individuals and increasing craving in less anxiously attached individuals.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Social perceptual ability, cue-induced craving, and approach bias for alcohol and appetitive imagery were quantified after intranasal oxytocin and placebo administration to 32 nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol abuse in a double-blind, crossover study.
Report a problemFND-2715934203
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In individuals with alcohol abuse and lower attachment anxiety, oxytocin increased craving compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn people with alcohol abuse and less attachment anxiety, oxytocin increased craving compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCraving in less anxiously attached individuals
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
and increasing craving in less anxiously attached individuals.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Social perceptual ability, cue-induced craving, and approach bias for alcohol and appetitive imagery were quantified after intranasal oxytocin and placebo administration to 32 nontreatment-seeking individuals with alcohol abuse in a double-blind, crossover study.
Report a problemFND-2715934204

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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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