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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2026

3 results

The Relationship Between Serum Neurosteroids and Oxytocin Levels and Craving, Aggression and Emotion Regulation in Patients with Methamphetamine Use Disorder.

Akbas Cakmak H, Yazici AB, Guzel Erdogan D, Ogur YS, Yazici E

Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)27 Mar 2026

PMID42029593 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13108118 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/medsci14020169 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42029593
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Summary

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum neuroactive steroids (NAS) and oxytocin and craving and psychosocial functioning in men diagnosed with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 men with MUD (PG) and 41 non-substance-use-disorder controls (CG) completed measures of emotion dysregulation (DERS-16), attachment (ECR-R), aggression (BPAQ), and suicidal ideation (BSS). PG additionally completed the Substance Craving Scale (SCS) and Addiction Profile Index (API). Serum allopregnanolone (ALLO), DHEAS, testosterone, 17β-estradiol (E2), and oxytocin were assayed. Results: The results indicated that the PG exhibited significantly higher scores than the CG across all psychological measures. Robust adjusted group effects were observed for DERS-16 (Model 1: F = 35.507, p p p p < 0.001). Notably, serum levels of ALLO, DHEAS, testosterone, E2, and oxytocin did not differ significantly between groups. However, hormonal measures were strongly intercorrelated within both groups (r ≈ 0.877-0.936, all p < 0.001). In the PG, craving demonstrated positive correlations with DHEAS (r = 0.384, p = 0.014), testosterone (r = 0.415, p = 0.008), E2 (r = 0.360, p = 0.023), and oxytocin (r = 0.350, p = 0.027). A multivariable model analyzing craving was statistically significant (R2 = 0.350; F(3,36) = 6.474, p = 0.001), with composite hormonal factor (B = 2.390, p = 0.016) serving as an independent predictor, while API Excluding Craving(API-EC) (p = 0.094) and DERS-16 did not emerge as a significant factor (p = 0.056). In hormone-specific models controlling for API-EC and DERS-16, DHEAS (p = 0.012), testosterone (p = 0.007), oxytocin (p = 0.023), and E2 (p = 0.023) retained significance after false discovery rate (FDR) correction; ALLO did not (p = 0.055). Conclusions: Despite the absence of significant differences in peripheral NAS and oxytocin levels between groups, men with MUD exhibited pronounced psychosocial impairments. The craving experienced during inpatient treatment was primarily elucidated by an integrated endocrine profile. These findings underscore the necessity for larger longitudinal studies incorporating repeated hormonal assessments to further explore these relationships.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured3

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther

    Serum oxytocin levels did not differ significantly between men with methamphetamine use disorder and controls.

    In plain wordsThe body's own oxytocin levels in blood were not different between men with methamphetamine use disorder and men without it.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSerum oxytocin: methamphetamine use disorder versus controls
    Study

    n = 81

    Comparator
    Non-substance-use-disorder controls
    Outcome group
    Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Notably, serum levels of ALLO, DHEAS, testosterone, E2, and oxytocin did not differ significantly between groups.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 men with MUD (PG) and 41 non-substance-use-disorder controls (CG) completed measures of emotion dysregulation (DERS-16), attachment (ECR-R), aggression (BPAQ), and suicidal ideation (BSS).
    Summary · context
    Serum allopregnanolone (ALLO), DHEAS, testosterone, 17β-estradiol (E2), and oxytocin were assayed.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  2. 02HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther

    In men with methamphetamine use disorder, higher serum oxytocin levels correlated positively with craving.

    In plain wordsIn men with methamphetamine use disorder, higher natural oxytocin levels in blood were linked to stronger craving.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCorrelation of serum oxytocin with craving
    Study

    n = 40

    Outcome group
    Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood

    Measurements

    Correlation r
    0.35
    oxytocin and craving, p = 0.027

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In the PG, craving demonstrated positive correlations with DHEAS (r = 0.384, p = 0.014), testosterone (r = 0.415, p = 0.008), E2 (r = 0.360, p = 0.023), and oxytocin (r = 0.350, p = 0.027).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 men with MUD (PG) and 41 non-substance-use-disorder controls (CG) completed measures of emotion dysregulation (DERS-16), attachment (ECR-R), aggression (BPAQ), and suicidal ideation (BSS).
    Summary · context
    Serum allopregnanolone (ALLO), DHEAS, testosterone, 17β-estradiol (E2), and oxytocin were assayed.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  3. 03HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther

    In men with methamphetamine use disorder, serum oxytocin retained significance as a predictor of craving after FDR correction when API-EC and DERS-16 were controlled.

    In plain wordsIn men with methamphetamine use disorder, natural oxytocin levels in blood remained linked to craving after adjusting for other measures.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableOxytocin as predictor of craving in hormone-specific model
    Study

    n = 40

    Outcome group
    Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In hormone-specific models controlling for API-EC and DERS-16, DHEAS (p = 0.012), testosterone (p = 0.007), oxytocin (p = 0.023), and E2 (p = 0.023)
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 men with MUD (PG) and 41 non-substance-use-disorder controls (CG) completed measures of emotion dysregulation (DERS-16), attachment (ECR-R), aggression (BPAQ), and suicidal ideation (BSS).
    Summary · context
    Serum allopregnanolone (ALLO), DHEAS, testosterone, 17β-estradiol (E2), and oxytocin were assayed.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

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, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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