Intranasal Oxytocin for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Multisite Trial...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Oxytocin, a neuropeptide, influences behaviors related to addiction, including reward and stress response.
• Previous animal studies suggest oxytocin reduces alcohol consumption, but human trial results for alcohol use disorder (AUD) have been inconsistent.
• This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of intranasal oxytocin for treating AUD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin in reducing heavy drinking days in individuals with AUD over a 12-week period.
• To assess secondary drinking outcomes, psychological measures, and alcohol-related consequences.
• To determine the safety and tolerability of intranasal oxytocin in the AUD population.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week, double-blind, randomized, multisite clinical trial involving 100 individuals diagnosed with AUD.
• Participants received either intranasal oxytocin (up to 70 IU/day) or a placebo.
• The primary outcome was the weekly percentage of heavy drinking days (PHDD) over 10 weeks of maintenance treatment.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in PHDD was observed between the oxytocin and placebo groups during the 10-week maintenance phase.
• A slight, non-significant reduction in drinking was noted in the oxytocin group from weeks 9 to 12.
• Oxytocin was well-tolerated, with mild adverse events comparable between groups; participants receiving oxytocin showed reduced anger and physical aggression.

Conclusions:

• Intranasal oxytocin was found to be safe and well-tolerated for AUD treatment but did not significantly reduce drinking or related outcomes.
• The study suggests that higher doses, longer treatment durations, or larger trials may be necessary to identify potential therapeutic effects or responsive subgroups.
• Further investigation is warranted to fully determine the potential role of oxytocin in managing alcohol use disorder.