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Study · Systematic review · 2023

2 results

Functional brain changes after alternative pharmacological interventions in posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of clinical trials.

Lotfinia S, Afshar A, Yaseri A, Olff M, Quidé Y

Brain and behavior20 Oct 2023Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID37864378 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC10726808 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1002/brb3.3292 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-37864378
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Summary

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex and heterogeneous mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Clinical trials have used alternative pharmacological agents to treat PTSD, but their associated neural correlates remain unclear. The present systematic review aims to summarize the changes in brain function associated with the use of these alternative pharmacological agents in PTSD.MethodsClinical trials using functional magnetic resonance imaging, either at rest or during the performance of tasks, were included if they compared the effects of alternative pharmacological agents between PTSD patients and either trauma-exposed controls or never-exposed healthy controls.ResultsSixteen studies were included, of which 11 used intranasal oxytocin, 2 used hydrocortisone, and 3 used delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Oxytocin administration was associated with the normalization of functional connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala as well as enhanced the function of brain regions specifically involved in emotion processing (e.g., amygdala), working memory (e.g., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and reward (e.g., putamen). Hydrocortisone did not influence brain function at rest or during the performance of an autobiographical memory task, whereas THC was associated with the reduction of the amygdala and increased medial prefrontal cortex activation.ConclusionsThis systematic review identified preliminary evidence for normalizing brain function after the use of alternative pharmacological agents. Importantly, sex-specific differences were noted, in particular when using oxytocin, that will require further investigation.
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. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a systematic review of fMRI trials in posttraumatic stress disorder, intranasal oxytocin was associated with normalization of functional connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala.

    In plain wordsIn people with PTSD, nasal oxytocin was linked to more normal connectivity between two brain regions involved in emotion, according to a review.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableVentromedial prefrontal cortex-amygdala functional connectivity in PTSD
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin administration was associated with the normalization of functional connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Clinical trials using functional magnetic resonance imaging, either at rest or during the performance of tasks, were included if they compared the effects of alternative pharmacological agents between PTSD patients and either trauma-exposed controls or never-exposed healthy controls.
    Summary · context
    Sixteen studies were included, of which 11 used intranasal oxytocin, 2 used hydrocortisone, and 3 used delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In a systematic review of fMRI trials in posttraumatic stress disorder, intranasal oxytocin enhanced the function of brain regions involved in emotion processing, working memory and reward.

    In plain wordsIn people with PTSD, nasal oxytocin was linked to stronger function in brain regions for emotion, working memory and reward, according to a review.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseFunction of emotion, working memory and reward brain regions in PTSD
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    enhanced the function of brain regions specifically involved in emotion processing (e.g., amygdala), working memory (e.g., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and reward (e.g., putamen).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Clinical trials using functional magnetic resonance imaging, either at rest or during the performance of tasks, were included if they compared the effects of alternative pharmacological agents between PTSD patients and either trauma-exposed controls or never-exposed healthy controls.
    Summary · context
    Sixteen studies were included, of which 11 used intranasal oxytocin, 2 used hydrocortisone, and 3 used delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

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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