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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 17 · 2018

4 results

Augmenting Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD with intranasal oxytocin: A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Flanagan JC, Sippel LM, Wahlquist A, Moran-Santa Maria MM, Back SE

Journal of psychiatric research26 Dec 2017Cited by 83 (Europe PMC)

PMID29294429 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5800951 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.12.014 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-29294429
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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 trialSafety outcome

    In 17 individuals with PTSD receiving Prolonged Exposure therapy, three dropped out (17.6%): 2 in the oxytocin group and 1 in the placebo group.

    In plain wordsIn 17 people with PTSD in therapy, three dropped out: 2 in the oxytocin group and 1 in the placebo group.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableDropout
    Study

    n = 17

    Comparator
    Placebo plus Prolonged Exposure therapy
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Dropout
    17.6%
    all participants

    Source sentences

    Summary
    three individuals dropped out (17.6%; 2 oxytocin group and 1 placebo group).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial examined the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of augmenting PE with oxytocin.
    Summary · context
    Participants were 17 individuals with diverse index traumas.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In individuals with PTSD, PTSD symptoms were lower in the oxytocin group than in the placebo group during Prolonged Exposure, but the difference did not reach statistical significance.

    In plain wordsIn people with PTSD, symptoms were lower with oxytocin than with placebo during therapy, but the difference was not statistically significant.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changePTSD symptoms during Prolonged Exposure
    Study

    n = 17

    Comparator
    Placebo plus Prolonged Exposure therapy
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The oxytocin group demonstrated lower PTSD and depression symptoms during PE, and had higher working alliance scores, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial examined the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of augmenting PE with oxytocin.
    Summary · context
    Participants were 17 individuals with diverse index traumas.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In individuals with PTSD, depression symptoms were lower in the oxytocin group than in the placebo group during Prolonged Exposure, but the difference did not reach statistical significance.

    In plain wordsIn people with PTSD, depression symptoms were lower with oxytocin than with placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeDepression symptoms during Prolonged Exposure
    Study

    n = 17

    Comparator
    Placebo plus Prolonged Exposure therapy
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The oxytocin group demonstrated lower PTSD and depression symptoms during PE, and had higher working alliance scores, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial examined the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of augmenting PE with oxytocin.
    Summary · context
    Participants were 17 individuals with diverse index traumas.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In individuals with PTSD, working alliance scores were higher in the oxytocin group than in the placebo group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance.

    In plain wordsIn people with PTSD, scores for the bond with the therapist were higher with oxytocin than with placebo, but not significantly.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeWorking alliance score
    Study

    n = 17

    Comparator
    Placebo plus Prolonged Exposure therapy
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The oxytocin group demonstrated lower PTSD and depression symptoms during PE, and had higher working alliance scores, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial examined the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of augmenting PE with oxytocin.
    Summary · context
    Participants were 17 individuals with diverse index traumas.

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

Registered trials1

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

1 trial · 1 completed · 1 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 2Results postedNCT03238924

Prolonged Exposure and Oxytocin

Medical University of South Carolinan = 171 Jan 2015 to 31 Dec 2016

PTSD

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 25 May 2018

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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