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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 217 · 2023

2 results

Oxytocin vs. placebo effects on intrusive memory consolidation using a trauma film paradigm: a randomized, controlled experimental study in healthy women.

Maslahati T, Wingenfeld K, Hellmann-Regen J, Kraft J, Lyu J, Keinert M, Voß A, Cho AB, Ripke S, Otte C, Schultebraucks K, Roepke S

Translational psychiatry4 Feb 2023Cited by 7 (Europe PMC)

PMID36739422 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC9899212 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41398-023-02339-z (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-36739422
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Summary

Oxytocin administration during a trauma analogue has been shown to increase intrusive memories, which are a core symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is unknown whether oxytocin influences the acquisition or the consolidation of the trauma. The current study investigates the effect of the activation of the oxytocin system during the consolidation of an analogue trauma on the formation of intrusive memories over four consecutive days and whether this effect is influenced by individual neurobiological, genetic, or psychological factors. We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 217 healthy women. They received either a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo after exposure to a trauma film paradigm, which reliably induces intrusive memories. We used a general random forest to examine a potential heterogeneous treatment effect of oxytocin on the consolidation of intrusive memories. Furthermore, we used a poisson regression to examine whether salivary alpha amylase activity (sAA) as a marker of noradrenergic activity and cortisol response to the film, polygenic risk score (PRS) for psychiatric disorders, and psychological factors influence the number of intrusive memories. We found no significant effect of oxytocin on the formation of intrusive memories (F(2, 543.16) = 0.75, p = 0.51, ηp2 = 0.00) and identified no heterogeneous treatment effect. We replicated previous associations of the PRS for PTSD, sAA and the cortisol response on intrusive memories. We further found a positive association between high trait anxiety and intrusive memories, and a negative association between the emotion regulation strategy reappraisal and intrusive memories. Data of the present study suggest that the consolidation of intrusive memories in women is modulated by genetic, neurobiological and psychological factors, but is not influenced by oxytocin. Trial registration: NCT03875391.
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 healthy women, a single dose of intranasal oxytocin after a trauma film did not significantly change the formation of intrusive memories versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy women, one dose of oxytocin nasal spray after a trauma film did not change intrusive memories compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFormation of intrusive memories after trauma film
    Study

    n = 217

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We found no significant effect of oxytocin on the formation of intrusive memories (F(2, 543.16) = 0.75, p = 0.51, ηp2 = 0.00)
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 217 healthy women.
    Summary · context
    They received either a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo after exposure to a trauma film paradigm, which reliably induces intrusive memories.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy women, a random forest analysis found no heterogeneous treatment effect of oxytocin on intrusive memories versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy women, the analysis found no subgroup in which oxytocin changed intrusive memories compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeHeterogeneous treatment effect of oxytocin on intrusive memories
    Study

    n = 217

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    and identified no heterogeneous treatment effect.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 217 healthy women.
    Summary · context
    They received either a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo after exposure to a trauma film paradigm, which reliably induces intrusive memories.

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 · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedNot applicableNCT03875391

The Effect of Oxytocin on the Consolidation of Trauma-Associated Memories

Charite University, Berlin, Germanyn = 2176 Mar 2019 to 31 Mar 2021

Intrusive Memories · PTSD

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 4 Apr 2023

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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