Augmenting Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Co-Occurring Conditions with Oxytocin

The goal of this manuscript is to review the extant literature examining the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms underlying the potential utility of intranasal oxytocin as a novel pharmacologic intervention for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and for the treatment of co-morbid PTSD and alcohol and substance use disorders.

Research indicates that intranasal oxytocin is a low-cost and easily accessible medication with an excellent safety profile. Oxytocin holds promise for facilitating more effective PTSD treatment, particularly when used in combination with evidence-supported psychotherapy interventions. There is still a significant need to identify the mechanisms of action underlying oxytocin treatment of PTSD, and to maximize methods of nasal spray delivery, examine dose-response outcomes, and clarify the characteristics of individuals and populations that are most likely to benefit from adjunctive oxytocin treatment.

Collectively, preclinical and human laboratory research suggest that oxytocin may be an effective mechanism by which treatment outcomes for PTSD and common comorbidities can be enhanced. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to address efficacy, identify predictors of treatment outcome, and to assess the use of intranasal oxytocin within appropriate PTSD populations.