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Study · Randomized controlled trial · 2018

6 results

Intranasal oxytocin in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: Randomized controlled trial during re-feeding.

Russell J, Maguire S, Hunt GE, Kesby A, Suraev A, Stuart J, Booth J, McGregor IS

Psychoneuroendocrinology14 Oct 2017Cited by 64 (Europe PMC)

PMID29049935 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.10.014 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-29049935
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 study6

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with anorexia nervosa, weight gain during re-feeding was similar with intranasal oxytocin and placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, weight gain was similar with intranasal oxytocin and with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeWeight gain
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    36 IU daily · intranasal · 4-6 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Weight gain was similar in both groups.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    AN patients self-administered 36 IU IN-OT or placebo daily for 4-6 weeks during hospital treatment.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin significantly lowered the Eating Disorders Examination eating concern subscale score compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin lowered eating concern scores compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseEDE eating concern subscale score
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Appetite and food intake · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    36 IU daily · intranasal · 4-6 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The EDE eating concern subscale score was significantly lower after IN-OT treatment
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    AN patients self-administered 36 IU IN-OT or placebo daily for 4-6 weeks during hospital treatment.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin significantly lowered cognitive rigidity compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin lowered cognitive rigidity compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseCognitive rigidity
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    36 IU daily · intranasal · 4-6 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The EDE eating concern subscale score was significantly lower after IN-OT treatment as was cognitive rigidity.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    AN patients self-administered 36 IU IN-OT or placebo daily for 4-6 weeks during hospital treatment.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not significantly change social anxiety or the other outcomes at follow-up compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not change social anxiety or the other measured outcomes at follow-up compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSocial anxiety and other secondary outcomes at follow-up
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    36 IU daily · intranasal · 4-6 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There were no significant differences in social anxiety or any of the other outcomes at follow-up.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    AN patients self-administered 36 IU IN-OT or placebo daily for 4-6 weeks during hospital treatment.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with anorexia nervosa, after four weeks of intranasal oxytocin, salivary cortisol was significantly lower in anticipation of an afternoon snack compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin lowered the stress hormone cortisol before a snack compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseSalivary cortisol in anticipation of a snack
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    36 IU daily · intranasal · 4-6 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    After four weeks IN-OT, salivary cortisol levels were significantly lowered in anticipation of an afternoon snack compared to placebo.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    AN patients self-administered 36 IU IN-OT or placebo daily for 4-6 weeks during hospital treatment.
  6. 06HumanRandomized controlled trialPharmacokinetics

    In patients with anorexia nervosa, morning plasma oxytocin levels did not change after chronic intranasal oxytocin or with weight restoration.

    In plain wordsIn people with anorexia nervosa, morning blood oxytocin levels did not change after weeks of intranasal oxytocin or with weight restoration.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeMorning plasma oxytocin levels
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacology
    Studied dose
    36 IU daily · intranasal · 4-6 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Morning plasma OT levels did not change after chronic IN-OT or with weight restoration.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    AN patients self-administered 36 IU IN-OT or placebo daily for 4-6 weeks during hospital treatment.

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, 02:49 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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