Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

8.3K

Oxytocin and Anxiety Disorders: Translational and Therapeutic Aspects

Wadih Jean Naja1,2, Michaelangelo Pietro Aoun3,4

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. wjnaja@gmail.com.

Current Psychiatry Reports
|August 16, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The oxytocin (OXT) system plays a significant role in human anxiety regulation. Research indicates OXT is a promising target for developing new anxiety treatments, particularly for socio-emotional dysfunctions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The oxytocin (OXT) system is increasingly recognized for its influence on social behavior and emotional regulation.
  • Understanding OXT's role in anxiety is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent literature on the oxytocin system's involvement in human anxiety.
  • To assess the potential of the OXT system as a target for novel anxiolytic drugs.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive survey of preclinical and clinical research.
  • Analysis of translational studies, genetic research, neuroimaging, and clinical trials.
  • Evaluation of intranasal (IN) oxytocin studies.

Main Results:

  • Consistent evidence supports a positive association between the OXT system and anxiety regulation.
  • Oxytocin demonstrates anxiolytic effects, though influenced by factors like sex and cue specificity.
  • The OXT system is undeniably involved in modulating anxiety responses.

Conclusions:

  • The oxytocin system offers valuable insights into anxiety and stress-related disorders.
  • Oxytocin presents a promising therapeutic avenue for human anxiety disorders, especially those with socio-emotional deficits.
Keywords:
AnxietyHumanOxytocinPTSDRodentSocial anxiety

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice14:40

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: October 27, 2020

20.2K
Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety04:20

Social Isolation Model: A Noninvasive Rodent Model of Stress and Anxiety

Published on: November 11, 2022

5.7K

Related Concept Videos

Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
2.9K
Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview01:26

Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview

Anxiolytic drugs are vital in managing anxiety disorders by effectively alleviating symptoms such as excessive fear, tachycardia, and tremors. There are several classes of anxiolytic medications, each with unique mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic...
1.3K
Anxiety: Overview01:18

Anxiety: Overview

Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
1.2K
Behavior Therapy01:22

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
825
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
320
Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone01:29

Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone

Benzodiazepines are a class of anxiolytic drugs known for their rapid efficacy and high therapeutic-to-lethal dose ratio, but with a potential risk of drug dependence. These drugs are lipophilic, allowing for rapid absorption after oral administration, eventually reaching the central nervous system (CNS). Once in the CNS, benzodiazepines bind to the allosteric site of the GABAA receptor. This binding enhances the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. By doing so, they prevent...
2.7K