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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 30 · 2019

2 results

Oxytocin modulates hippocampal perfusion in people at clinical high risk for psychosis.

Davies C, Paloyelis Y, Rutigliano G, Cappucciati M, De Micheli A, Ramella-Cravaro V, Provenzani U, Antoniades M, Modinos G, Oliver D, Stahl D, Murguia S and 8 more

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Zelaya F, Allen P, Shergill S, Morrison P, Williams S, Taylor D, McGuire P, Fusar-Poli P

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology9 Jan 2019Cited by 25 (Europe PMC)

PMID30626906 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6784972 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41386-018-0311-6 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-30626906
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Summary

Preclinical and human studies suggest that hippocampal dysfunction is a key factor in the onset of psychosis. People at Clinical High Risk for psychosis (CHR-P) present with a clinical syndrome that can include social withdrawal and have a 20-35% risk of developing psychosis in the next 2 years. Recent research shows that resting hippocampal blood flow is altered in CHR-P individuals and predicts adverse clinical outcomes, such as non-remission/transition to frank psychosis. Previous work in healthy males indicates that a single dose of intranasal oxytocin has positive effects on social function and marked effects on resting hippocampal blood flow. The present study examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin on hippocampal blood flow in CHR-P individuals. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 30 CHR-P males were studied using pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labelling on 2 occasions, once after 40IU intranasal oxytocin and once after placebo. The effects of oxytocin on left hippocampal blood flow were examined in a region-of-interest analysis of data acquired at 22-28 and at 30-36 minutes post-intranasal administration. Relative to placebo, administration of oxytocin was associated with increased hippocampal blood flow at both time points (p = .0056; p = .034), although the effect at the second did not survive adjustment for the effect of global blood flow. These data indicate that oxytocin can modulate hippocampal function in CHR-P individuals and therefore merits further investigation as a candidate novel treatment for this group.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In males at clinical high risk for psychosis, intranasal oxytocin increased left hippocampal blood flow versus placebo at both time points, although the effect at the second time point did not survive adjustment for global blood flow.

    In plain wordsIn males at high risk for psychosis, oxytocin raised blood flow in the hippocampus compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseLeft hippocampal blood flow
    Study

    n = 30

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Relative to placebo, administration of oxytocin was associated with increased hippocampal blood flow at both time points (p = .0056; p = .034)
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 30 CHR-P males were studied using pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labelling on 2 occasions, once after 40IU intranasal oxytocin and once after placebo.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In males at clinical high risk for psychosis, the oxytocin effect on hippocampal blood flow at the second time point did not survive adjustment for global blood flow.

    In plain wordsIn males at high risk for psychosis, the later oxytocin effect on hippocampal blood flow was not significant after adjusting for global blood flow.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeLeft hippocampal blood flow after adjustment for global blood flow (second time point)
    Study

    n = 30

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    although the effect at the second did not survive adjustment for the effect of global blood flow.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 30 CHR-P males were studied using pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labelling on 2 occasions, once after 40IU intranasal oxytocin and once after placebo.

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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