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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 40 · 2021

3 results

The effect of intranasally administered oxytocin on observed social behavior in social anxiety disorder.

Voncken MJ, Dijk C, Stöhr F, Niesten IJM, Schruers K, Kuypers KPC

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology3 Aug 2021Cited by 14 (Europe PMC)

PMID34358819 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.07.005 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-34358819
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Summary

Research has shown that patients with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) show social performance deficits. These deficits are a maintaining factor in SAD, as mending social behavior improves interpersonal judgments and reduces social anxiety. Thus finding ways to enhance social behavior is evidently of importance in the treatment of SAD. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of an intranasal administration of the hormone oxytocin (24 IU) on social behavior and anxious appearance in SAD patients (N = 40) and healthy controls (N = 39). Forty minutes after oxytocin administration participants were submitted to two live social situations (i.e., a waiting room situation and a getting acquainted task). The participants ('self-rated') and observers ('observer-rated') scored participants' social behavior and anxious appearance. Participants also rated their positive and negative affect. Confirming the social performance deficits in SAD, observers regarded SAD patients as more anxious and less socially skilled than healthy controls. Results indicated oxytocin-induced improvement of observer-rated social behavior in SAD patients compared to placebo but only in the getting acquainted task. This effect was not perceived as such by patients themselves and did not improve their affect ratings. In conclusion, this study found support for the idea that oxytocin helps SAD patients to perform better in social interactions, although this improvement seemed context-dependent (i.e., only present in the getting-acquainted task) and 'not perceived by the patient.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with social anxiety disorder, oxytocin improved observer-rated social behavior compared with placebo, but only in the getting acquainted task.

    In plain wordsIn people with social anxiety, oxytocin improved observer-rated social behavior more than placebo, but only in one of two tasks.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseObserver-rated social behavior in SAD patients
    Study

    n = 40

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Results indicated oxytocin-induced improvement of observer-rated social behavior in SAD patients compared to placebo but only in the getting acquainted task.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of an intranasal administration of the hormone oxytocin (24 IU) on social behavior and anxious appearance in SAD patients (N = 40) and healthy controls (N = 39).
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with social anxiety disorder, the oxytocin-induced improvement in observer-rated behavior was not perceived by the patients themselves.

    In plain wordsIn people with social anxiety, the observer-rated improvement after oxytocin was not noticed by the patients themselves.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changePatient self-perceived social behavior
    Study

    n = 40

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This effect was not perceived as such by patients themselves
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of an intranasal administration of the hormone oxytocin (24 IU) on social behavior and anxious appearance in SAD patients (N = 40) and healthy controls (N = 39).
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with social anxiety disorder, oxytocin did not improve affect ratings.

    In plain wordsIn people with social anxiety, oxytocin did not improve how they rated their mood.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changePositive and negative affect ratings
    Study

    n = 40

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    did not improve their affect ratings.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    This double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of an intranasal administration of the hormone oxytocin (24 IU) on social behavior and anxious appearance in SAD patients (N = 40) and healthy controls (N = 39).

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, 00:50 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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