Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Disorders and Their Relationship with Disease Severity,...

Oxytocin (OXT) is thought to play a role in processes such as social bonding, empathy, and emotional regulation, as well as in the pathophysiology of repetitive/grooming behaviors. The aim of this study is to compare plasma OXT levels in individuals with body-focused repetitive behavior disorder (BFRBD) to those in a healthy control group, and to examine the relationship of OXT with disease severity, emotional regulation, and attachment styles.

This study included 35 patients aged 18-45 diagnosed with BFRBD who visited the psychiatry outpatient clinic, and 35 healthy controls with matched age, gender, and partner-status. Participants were assessed using the Beck depression inventory (BDI), difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS-16), experiences in close relationships inventory-II (ECR-II), and Hendrick relationship satisfaction scale (HRSS), and plasma OXT levels were measured.

Oxytocin levels in patients with BFRBD were found to be significantly lower than in healthy controls (p<0.001). Patients had higher scores for insecure attachment and difficulties in emotional regulation (p<0.01). Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between the severity of skin-picking behavior and OXT levels (p=0.033).

The insufficiency of OXT levels in BFRBD patients and its association with disease severity suggest that OXT may play a role in the psychopathology of BFRBD. Further research is needed to explore the role of OXT and its therapeutic potential in this disorder.