The Effectiveness of Intranasal Oxytocin on Addiction Severity Index and Anhedonia Symptoms in an Alcoholic Case with Oropharyngeal Cancer, a Protocol for a Single-case Experimental Design Pilot Study.

Pirnia B, Hamdieh M, Kazemi Ashtiani M, Malekanmehr P, Pirnia K, Zahiroddin A, Sadeghi P

Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR1 Jan 2020Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID33680006PMCIDPMC7757988DOI10.22037/ijpr.2020.14338.12314PepBankPUB-33680006

Summary

One of the goals of all pharmacological interventions aimed to increase the survival rate of patients with alcohol-dependent oropharyngeal cancers is to decrease alcohol use. Oxytocin is an alternative therapy for craving and alcohol management. However, the effectiveness of oxytocin on the severity of alcohol dependence has not been evaluated. In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS). The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C. The data were analyzed by Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE) and Repeated Measures Correlation (rmcorr). Primary outcomes showed that addiction severity Index (ASI) was significantly reduced in five domains of medical status, occupational status, alcohol consumption, family status, and mental status (all p's < 0.05). There was no significant effect of treatment on legal status (all p's > 0.05). Also, social (p p < 0.01) anhedonia syndrome decreased in the treatment stages. However, these changes did not persist until the 6-month follow-up (all p's > 0.05). Secondary outcomes showed that there was a significant direct relationship between the severity of addiction and anhedonia (r_mcorr = 0.01). The findings of this study showed that the reduction of oxytocin-induced neurotoxic symptoms led to a decrease in the severity of addiction and an improvement in the anhedonia syndrome.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a man with alcohol dependence and oropharyngeal cancer, intranasal oxytocin significantly reduced addiction severity in the medical, occupational, alcohol consumption, family and mental status domains.
In plain wordsIn one man with alcohol dependence and throat cancer, oxytocin spray lowered addiction severity scores in five areas of life during treatment stages.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseAddiction Severity Index, five domains
Study
n = 1
Comparator
Placebo stages
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · two six-week stagesAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Primary outcomes showed that addiction severity Index (ASI) was significantly reduced in five domains of medical status, occupational status, alcohol consumption, family status, and mental status (all p's < 0.05).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS).
Summary · context
The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3368000601
02HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a man with alcohol dependence and oropharyngeal cancer, intranasal oxytocin had no significant effect on the legal status domain of addiction severity.
In plain wordsIn one man with alcohol dependence and throat cancer, oxytocin spray did not change the legal status score.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAddiction Severity Index, legal status
Study
n = 1
Comparator
Placebo stages
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · two six-week stagesAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
There was no significant effect of treatment on legal status (all p's > 0.05).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS).
Summary · context
The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3368000602
03HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a man with alcohol dependence and oropharyngeal cancer, social anhedonia decreased during the intranasal oxytocin treatment stages.
In plain wordsIn one man with alcohol dependence and throat cancer, loss of social pleasure lessened during the oxytocin treatment stages.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseSocial anhedonia
Study
n = 1
Comparator
Placebo stages
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · two six-week stagesAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Also, social (p p < 0.01) anhedonia syndrome decreased in the treatment stages.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS).
Summary · context
The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3368000603
04HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a man with alcohol dependence and oropharyngeal cancer, physical anhedonia decreased during the intranasal oxytocin treatment stages.
In plain wordsIn one man with alcohol dependence and throat cancer, loss of physical pleasure lessened during the oxytocin treatment stages.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreasePhysical anhedonia
Study
n = 1
Comparator
Placebo stages
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · two six-week stagesAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Also, social (p p < 0.01) anhedonia syndrome decreased in the treatment stages.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS).
Summary · context
The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3368000604
05HumanCase report or seriesEfficacy outcome
In a man with alcohol dependence and oropharyngeal cancer, the changes in addiction severity and anhedonia did not persist until the 6-month follow-up.
In plain wordsIn one man with alcohol dependence and throat cancer, the gains seen during oxytocin treatment were gone at the 6-month follow-up.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePersistence of changes at 6-month follow-up
Study
n = 1
Comparator
Placebo stages
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · two six-week stagesAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
However, these changes did not persist until the 6-month follow-up (all p's > 0.05).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS).
Summary · context
The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3368000605

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

06HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneCase report or seriesMechanism
In a man with alcohol dependence and oropharyngeal cancer treated with intranasal oxytocin, addiction severity and anhedonia showed a significant direct relationship.
In plain wordsIn one man with alcohol dependence and throat cancer given oxytocin spray, addiction severity and loss of pleasure rose and fell together.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableRelationship between addiction severity and anhedonia
Study
n = 1
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
Secondary outcomes showed that there was a significant direct relationship between the severity of addiction and anhedonia (r_mcorr = 0.01).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In an ABABC study with a 6-month follow-up, during February 2015 to June 2016, a 67-year-old man with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with comorbidity of alcohol dependence syndrome and anhedonia was selected by Respondent-Driven sampling (RDS).
Summary · context
The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two six-week stages (B₁ and B₂) and received placebo only in the other two stages (A₁ and A₂), and the follow-up results were evaluated at stage C.
In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3368000606

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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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