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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 67 · 2019

3 results

Effects of oxytocin on stress reactivity and craving in veterans with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

Flanagan JC, Allan NP, Calhoun CD, Badour CL, Moran-Santa Maria M, Brady KT, Back SE

Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology1 Nov 2018Cited by 39 (Europe PMC)

PMID30382728 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6355345 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1037/pha0000232 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-30382728
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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 study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In male veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, intranasal oxytocin marginally attenuated cortisol reactivity to a laboratory stress task compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn male veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, oxytocin slightly lowered the cortisol rise during a stress task compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseCortisol reactivity to stress task
    Study

    n = 67

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The findings revealed that oxytocin marginally attenuated cortisol reactivity in response to the stress task.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Thus, the current study examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) as compared with placebo on stress reactivity (e.g., cortisol) as well as subjective alcohol craving in response to a laboratory stress task (Trier Social Stress Task).
    Summary · context
    Participants were 67 male U.S. military veterans with current PTSD and AUD (oxytocin n = 32, placebo n = 35; overall mean age = 49.06 years).
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In male veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, oxytocin reduced cortisol reactivity more in participants with higher baseline cortisol than in those with lower baseline cortisol.

    In plain wordsIn male veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, oxytocin lowered the stress cortisol rise more in men with higher starting cortisol.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseCortisol reactivity by baseline cortisol level
    Study

    n = 67

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, oxytocin's effect was moderated by baseline cortisol level, such that oxytocin mitigated cortisol reactivity to a greater extent among participants with higher, as compared with lower, baseline cortisol.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Thus, the current study examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) as compared with placebo on stress reactivity (e.g., cortisol) as well as subjective alcohol craving in response to a laboratory stress task (Trier Social Stress Task).
    Summary · context
    Participants were 67 male U.S. military veterans with current PTSD and AUD (oxytocin n = 32, placebo n = 35; overall mean age = 49.06 years).
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In male veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, intranasal oxytocin did not reduce alcohol craving compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn male veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, oxytocin did not reduce alcohol craving compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSubjective alcohol craving
    Study

    n = 67

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin did not reduce craving.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Thus, the current study examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) as compared with placebo on stress reactivity (e.g., cortisol) as well as subjective alcohol craving in response to a laboratory stress task (Trier Social Stress Task).
    Summary · context
    Participants were 67 male U.S. military veterans with current PTSD and AUD (oxytocin n = 32, placebo n = 35; overall mean age = 49.06 years).

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 1Results postedNCT02058251

Oxytocin Suppresses Substance Use Disorders Associated With Chronic Stress

Medical University of South Carolinan = 73Feb 2014 to Apr 2017

Alcohol Use Disorders

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 14 Mar 2019

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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