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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 108 · 2018

2 results

Enhancing Placebo Effects in Somatic Symptoms Through Oxytocin.

Skvortsova A, Veldhuijzen DS, Van Middendorp H, Van den Bergh O, Evers AWM

Psychosomatic medicine1 May 2018Cited by 24 (Europe PMC)

PMID29613940 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5959206 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1097/psy.0000000000000571 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-29613940
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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: CC BY-NC-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study2

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In women, oxytocin did not enhance the placebo effect for pain or itch compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn women, oxytocin did not make the placebo effect on pain or itch stronger than placebo spray did.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changePlacebo effect on pain and itch
    Study

    n = 108

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Pain · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · sprayAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No effect of oxytocin on the placebo effect or on expectations was found.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    One hundred eight female participants were allocated to one of the following four groups: (1) oxytocin with positive verbal suggestions, (2) placebo with positive verbal suggestions, (3) oxytocin without suggestions, and (4) placebo without suggestions.
    Summary · context
    The administration of 24 IU oxytocin or a placebo spray was preceded by positive verbal suggestions regarding the pain- and itch-relieving properties of the spray or no suggestions, depending on group allocation.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In women, oxytocin had no effect on expectations of pain and itch relief compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn women, oxytocin did not change what they expected from the treatment compared with placebo spray.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeTreatment expectations for pain and itch
    Study

    n = 108

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Pain · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · sprayAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No effect of oxytocin on the placebo effect or on expectations was found.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    One hundred eight female participants were allocated to one of the following four groups: (1) oxytocin with positive verbal suggestions, (2) placebo with positive verbal suggestions, (3) oxytocin without suggestions, and (4) placebo without suggestions.
    Summary · context
    The administration of 24 IU oxytocin or a placebo spray was preceded by positive verbal suggestions regarding the pain- and itch-relieving properties of the spray or no suggestions, depending on group allocation.

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, 02:48 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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