The effectiveness of oxytocin for treating substance use disorders:A systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Mellentin AI, Finn SW, Skøt L, Thaysen-Petersen D, Mistarz N, Fink-Jensen A, Nielsen DG

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews28 Apr 2023Cited by 22 (Europe PMC)

PMID37119993DOI10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105185PepBankPUB-37119993

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

Oxytocin is gaining traction in the treatment of various substance use disorders (SUD). We performed a systematic review assessing the efficacy of oxytocin for treating different SUD. The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of oxytocin vs. placebo in SUD samples. Quality assessment was conducted using a Cochrane validated checklist. A total of 17 trials with unique samples were identified. These were conducted on participants with SUD involving alcohol (n = 5), opioids (n = 3), opioids and/or cocaine/other stimulants (n = 3), cannabis (n = 2), or nicotine (n = 4). Across the SUD-groups, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms (3/5 trials), negative emotional states (4/11 trials), cravings (4/11 trials), cue-induced cravings (4/7 trials), and consumption (4/8 trials). Sixteen trials had an overall considerable risk of bias. In conclusion, although oxytocin showed some promising therapeutic effects, the findings are too inconsistent and the trials too heterogeneous to derive any firm conclusions. Sounder methodological and well-powered trials are warranted.

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

Results from this study5

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

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms in 3 of 5 trials.
In plain wordsAcross trials in people with substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms in 3 of 5 trials.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedWithdrawal symptoms in substance use disorders
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Across the SUD-groups, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms (3/5 trials), negative emotional states (4/11 trials), cravings (4/11 trials), cue-induced cravings (4/7 trials), and consumption (4/8 trials).
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In conclusion, although oxytocin showed some promising therapeutic effects, the findings are too inconsistent and the trials too heterogeneous to derive any firm conclusions.
Summary · context
The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of oxytocin vs. placebo in SUD samples.
Summary · context
A total of 17 trials with unique samples were identified.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3711999301
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced negative emotional states in 4 of 11 trials.
In plain wordsAcross trials in people with substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced negative emotional states in 4 of 11 trials.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedNegative emotional states in substance use disorders
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Across the SUD-groups, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms (3/5 trials), negative emotional states (4/11 trials), cravings (4/11 trials), cue-induced cravings (4/7 trials), and consumption (4/8 trials).
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In conclusion, although oxytocin showed some promising therapeutic effects, the findings are too inconsistent and the trials too heterogeneous to derive any firm conclusions.
Summary · context
The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of oxytocin vs. placebo in SUD samples.
Summary · context
A total of 17 trials with unique samples were identified.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3711999302
03HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced cravings in 4 of 11 trials.
In plain wordsAcross trials in people with substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced cravings in 4 of 11 trials.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedCravings in substance use disorders
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Across the SUD-groups, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms (3/5 trials), negative emotional states (4/11 trials), cravings (4/11 trials), cue-induced cravings (4/7 trials), and consumption (4/8 trials).
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In conclusion, although oxytocin showed some promising therapeutic effects, the findings are too inconsistent and the trials too heterogeneous to derive any firm conclusions.
Summary · context
The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of oxytocin vs. placebo in SUD samples.
Summary · context
A total of 17 trials with unique samples were identified.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3711999303
04HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced cue-induced cravings in 4 of 7 trials.
In plain wordsAcross trials in people with substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced cue-induced cravings in 4 of 7 trials.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedCue-induced cravings in substance use disorders
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Across the SUD-groups, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms (3/5 trials), negative emotional states (4/11 trials), cravings (4/11 trials), cue-induced cravings (4/7 trials), and consumption (4/8 trials).
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In conclusion, although oxytocin showed some promising therapeutic effects, the findings are too inconsistent and the trials too heterogeneous to derive any firm conclusions.
Summary · context
The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of oxytocin vs. placebo in SUD samples.
Summary · context
A total of 17 trials with unique samples were identified.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3711999304
05HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced consumption in 4 of 8 trials.
In plain wordsAcross trials in people with substance use disorders, oxytocin reduced substance use in 4 of 8 trials.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
MixedSubstance consumption in substance use disorders
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Across the SUD-groups, oxytocin reduced withdrawal symptoms (3/5 trials), negative emotional states (4/11 trials), cravings (4/11 trials), cue-induced cravings (4/7 trials), and consumption (4/8 trials).
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In conclusion, although oxytocin showed some promising therapeutic effects, the findings are too inconsistent and the trials too heterogeneous to derive any firm conclusions.
Summary · context
The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials examining the effects of oxytocin vs. placebo in SUD samples.
Summary · context
A total of 17 trials with unique samples were identified.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3711999305

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, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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