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High Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder

John Flanagan1, Andreas Chatzittofis2,3, Adrian Desai E Boström3,4

  • 1Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 2, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Hypersexual men show elevated oxytocin levels, potentially as a compensatory response to stress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly reduced these oxytocin levels, suggesting a link between the oxytocinergic system and hypersexual disorder.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Psychiatry
  • Impulse Control Disorders

Background:

  • Hypersexual disorder (HD) is characterized by excessive sexual behaviors and is classified as an impulse control disorder.
  • The neurobiology of HD is not fully understood, but dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the role of oxytocin are implicated.
  • Oxytocin, a neuroendocrine hormone, counterregulates cortisol and is involved in sexual behavior, suggesting a potential role in HD pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of oxytocin in the pathophysiology of hypersexual disorder (HD).
  • To test the hypothesis that oxytocin may act in a compensatory manner to cortisol in individuals with HD.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study involving 64 males with HD and 38 healthy volunteers.
  • Plasma oxytocin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.
  • Hypersexual behavior was assessed using the Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory and the Hypersexual Disorder: Current Assessment Scale.
  • A subgroup of 30 patients with HD received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), with oxytocin levels measured pre- and post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • Males with HD had significantly higher plasma oxytocin levels compared to healthy controls (31.0 ± 9.9 pM vs. 16.9 ± 3.9 pM, P < 0.001).
  • Oxytocin levels positively correlated with the severity of hypersexual behavior.
  • Patients who completed CBT showed a significant reduction in plasma oxytocin levels from pretreatment (30.5 ± 10.1 pM) to posttreatment (20.2 ± 8.0 pM, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that an overactive oxytocinergic system in men with HD may serve as a compensatory mechanism to mitigate stress.
  • Oxytocin levels appear to be linked to the severity of hypersexual behavior.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy may help normalize oxytocin levels in individuals with HD.
Abstract

Keywords:
cognitive behavioral therapycompulsive sexual behavior disorderhypersexual disorderoxytocin

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