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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 61 · 2024

4 results

A phase II randomised controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin in anorexia nervosa.

Maguire S, Kesby A, Brownlow R, Hunt GE, Kim M, McAulay C, Grisham JR, McGregor IS, Suraev A, Kevin RC, Russell J

Psychoneuroendocrinology19 Mar 2024Cited by 14 (Europe PMC)

PMID38520886 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107032 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-38520886
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In inpatients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not differ from placebo on eating disorder psychopathology at any time point.

    In plain wordsIn women hospitalised with anorexia nervosa, oxytocin spray did not change eating disorder symptoms more than placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeEating disorder psychopathology (EDE)
    Study

    n = 61

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    18 IU twice per day · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No significant differences were found between placebo and OT groups at any of the time points on the outcomes of interest, but significant improvements in almost all psychological parameters in both groups were evident over time.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Outcome measures included ED psychopathology (primary) as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and Body Mass Index (BMI; secondary).
    Summary · context
    Patients with AN (N=61) received daily IN-OT (18 IU twice per day) or placebo for four weeks, whilst undergoing inpatient hospital treatment.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In inpatients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not differ from placebo on BMI at any time point.

    In plain wordsIn women hospitalised with anorexia nervosa, oxytocin spray did not change BMI more than placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeBody Mass Index
    Study

    n = 61

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Secondary
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    18 IU twice per day · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No significant differences were found between placebo and OT groups at any of the time points on the outcomes of interest, but significant improvements in almost all psychological parameters in both groups were evident over time.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Outcome measures included ED psychopathology (primary) as measured by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and Body Mass Index (BMI; secondary).
    Summary · context
    Patients with AN (N=61) received daily IN-OT (18 IU twice per day) or placebo for four weeks, whilst undergoing inpatient hospital treatment.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In inpatients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not significantly reduce anxiety in response to a high-calorie snack.

    In plain wordsIn women hospitalised with anorexia nervosa, oxytocin spray did not significantly lower anxiety after a high-calorie snack.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAnxiety response to a high-calorie snack
    Study

    n = 61

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    18 IU twice per day · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    IN-OT did not significantly reduce anxiety nor salivary cortisol in response to a high-calorie snack.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The effects of the first and last doses of IN-OT on responses (anxiety ratings and salivary cortisol) to a high-energy snack were also examined.
    Summary · context
    Patients with AN (N=61) received daily IN-OT (18 IU twice per day) or placebo for four weeks, whilst undergoing inpatient hospital treatment.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In inpatients with anorexia nervosa, intranasal oxytocin did not significantly reduce salivary cortisol in response to a high-calorie snack.

    In plain wordsIn women hospitalised with anorexia nervosa, oxytocin spray did not significantly lower the stress hormone cortisol after a snack.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSalivary cortisol response to a high-calorie snack
    Study

    n = 61

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    18 IU twice per day · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    IN-OT did not significantly reduce anxiety nor salivary cortisol in response to a high-calorie snack.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    The effects of the first and last doses of IN-OT on responses (anxiety ratings and salivary cortisol) to a high-energy snack were also examined.
    Summary · context
    Patients with AN (N=61) received daily IN-OT (18 IU twice per day) or placebo for four weeks, whilst undergoing inpatient hospital treatment.

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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