2025
Oxytocin and opioid antagonists: A dual approach to improving social behavior
Dal Monte O, Gangopadhyay P, Putnam P, Chang S. Oxytocin and opioid antagonists: A dual approach to improving social behavior. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences 2025 PMID: 40471548, DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15376.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImprove social functioningSocial behaviorOpioid systemOT systemOpioid antagonistSocial functioningRegulate social behaviorCentral OT systemImprove social behaviorEffects of OTSocial deficitsSocial impairmentNeuromodulatory systemsNeuromodulatory processesNeuroscience techniquesMental healthOxytocinWell-beingSocial contextOpioidNovel therapeutic strategiesInconsistent outcomesAntagonistClinical trialsBehaviorDiurnal changes of salivary oxytocin in healthy and psychiatric adolescents
Gizuterman A, Zgoory-Sharon O, Avirame K, Mevorach T, Foul Y, Feldman R, Eitan R. Diurnal changes of salivary oxytocin in healthy and psychiatric adolescents. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2025, 186: 273-279. PMID: 40267842, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.04.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSalivary oxytocinMeasures of emotion regulationCompleted self-report questionnairesPsychiatric inpatient wardsSelf-report questionnairesMental health stateEmotion regulationPsychiatric adolescentsYouth mental healthPsychiatric assessmentOxytocin levelsInterpersonal relationshipsDiurnal rhythmMental healthPsychopathologyOxytocin productionHealthy controlsOxytocinDaily time pointsHealthy peersAdolescent patientsAdolescentsBaseline levelsConsecutive daysPatient groupIntranasal oxytocin increases breast milk oxytocin, but has a reduced effect in depressed mothers: A randomized controlled trialcon
Lindley Baron-Cohen K, Fearon P, Feldman R, Hardiman P, Zagoory-Sharon O, Meins E, Fonagy P. Intranasal oxytocin increases breast milk oxytocin, but has a reduced effect in depressed mothers: A randomized controlled trialcon. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2025, 174: 107374. PMID: 39891981, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107374.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEdinburgh Postnatal Depression ScaleBreast milkPostnatal depressionSymptoms of postnatal depressionAdministration of exogenous OTOT concentrationsCut-off pointRandomized Controlled TrialsPostnatal Depression ScalePostnatal depressive symptomsDouble-blindNasal sprayMother-infant bondingPotential biological mechanismsMaternal postnatal depressionOT contentBreast milk samplesMental health vulnerabilitiesOT pathwaysExogenous OTOT administrationControl mothersBreastDepressed mothersOxytocin
2024
The association between salivary oxytocin, age, and puberty in children with and without OCD
Mora-Jensen A, Clemmensen L, Grønberg M, Lebowitz E, Quintana D, Jørgensen N, Larsen C, Bak L, Christensen G, Pretzmann L, Uhre V, Christensen S, Uhre C, Korsbjerg N, Thoustrup C, Hagstrøm J, Ritter M, Plessen K, Pagsberg A, Lønfeldt N. The association between salivary oxytocin, age, and puberty in children with and without OCD. Scientific Reports 2024, 14: 28693. PMID: 39562644, PMCID: PMC11576962, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80194-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsObsessive-compulsive disorderOxytocin concentrationsPediatric obsessive-compulsive disorderSalivary oxytocin concentrationsVisual inspection of plotsOxytocin systemPsychiatric disordersSalivary oxytocinEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayBehavioral changesPubertal stageAdolescentsModerate supportOxytocinInconsistent resultsPost-hocDisordersChildrenPost hoc testSystem activityCovariates ageParentsAssociationImmunosorbent assayHypothesisInfants' salivary oxytocin and positive affective reactions to people
Zeng G, Leung T, Maylott S, Malik A, Adornato A, Lebowitz M, Messinger D, Szeto A, Feldman R, Simpson E. Infants' salivary oxytocin and positive affective reactions to people. Hormones And Behavior 2024, 164: 105579. PMID: 38905820, DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105579.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOxytocin levelsSalivary oxytocinFacial affectAffective reactionsEarly Social Communication ScalesInfant positive affectStable individual differencesPositive facial affectSocial Communication ScalesHigher oxytocin levelsPositive affective reactionsSocio-emotional developmentPositive affectIndividual differencesSocial behaviorSmiling womenCommunication ScaleAffectOxytocinPhysiological measuresMonths of ageProsocialityStatistically significant changesU.S. infantsInfantsDesign of a randomized clinical trial of brief couple therapy for PTSD augmented with intranasal oxytocin
Sippel L, Wachsman T, Kelley M, Knopp K, Khalifian C, Maglione J, Glynn S, Macdonald A, Monson C, Flanagan J, Holtzheimer P, Morland L. Design of a randomized clinical trial of brief couple therapy for PTSD augmented with intranasal oxytocin. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2024, 141: 107534. PMID: 38614447, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107534.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCognitive-behavioral conjoint therapyImproving posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderIntranasal oxytocinConjoint therapyMechanisms of posttraumatic stress disorderRelationship qualityInternational units of oxytocinVA San Diego Healthcare SystemMechanisms of changeCognitive-behavioralStress disorderCouple therapyRelationship satisfactionManual treatmentPreliminary evidenceIntimate relationshipsOxytocinPotential mechanisms of actionVeteransSelf-reported communication skillsPlaceboRandomized clinical trialsCommunication skillsClinical trialsNeural control of fluid homeostasis is engaged below 10°C in hibernation
Junkins M, Feng N, Murphy L, Curtis G, Merriman D, Bagriantsev S, Gracheva E. Neural control of fluid homeostasis is engaged below 10°C in hibernation. Current Biology 2024, 34: 923-930.e5. PMID: 38325375, PMCID: PMC11232715, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressinSupraoptic nucleusFluid homeostasisC-Fos immunohistochemistryControl of fluid homeostasisHeart rateHypothalamic supraoptic nucleusReduced plasma levelsHormone arginine vasopressinPlasma hormone levelsSlow heart rateSON neuronsArginine vasopressinMassive fluid lossPlasma levelsPosterior pituitaryHormone levelsFiber photometryC-fosBlood pressureNeuronal activityHormonal responsesThirteen-lined ground squirrelsOxytocinInterbout arousalIntranasal Oxytocin Combined With Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: An Add-on Randomized Controlled Trial
Saporta-Wiesel L, Feldman R, Levi L, Davidson M, Burshtein S, Gur R, Zagoory-Sharon O, Amiaz R, Park J, Davis J, Weiser M. Intranasal Oxytocin Combined With Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: An Add-on Randomized Controlled Trial. Schizophrenia Bulletin Open 2024, 5: sgae022. PMID: 39502135, PMCID: PMC11535855, DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgae022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSocial skills trainingSymptoms of schizophreniaSkills trainingSupportive psychotherapyNegative symptoms of schizophreniaTreatment of negative symptomsSocial interactionBaseline to end-of-studyBlunted affectNegative symptomsPANSS scoresIntranasal oxytocinPositive affectSocial dysfunctionSchizophreniaRandomized Controlled TrialsTotal scoreSocial behaviorPost Hoc AnalysisPANSSPsychotherapyOxytocinHigh dose oxytocinAffectEnd-of-study
2023
Neurophysin I is an analytically robust surrogate biomarker for oxytocin
MacLean E, Carranza E, Gnanadesikan G, King K, Allen A, Linde-Krieger L, Feldman R, White-Traut R, Hammock E, Carter C, Leng G, Tecot S, Bell A. Neurophysin I is an analytically robust surrogate biomarker for oxytocin. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023, 161: 106951. PMID: 38194845, PMCID: PMC10872509, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106951.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSurrogate biomarkerOxytocin concentrationsUseful surrogate biomarkerRegulation of appetitePlasma oxytocin concentrationsNP-1Late pregnancyImmune functionKnockout micePleiotropic neuropeptideUrine samplesPlasma oxytocinCardiovascular repairOxytocinBiomarkersSandwich immunoassayStudy of vasopressinEquimolar concentrationsHuman plasmaBreast milk oxytocin and s-IgA modulate infant biomarkers and social engagement; The role of maternal anxiety
Zagoory-Sharon O, Yirmiya K, Peleg I, Shimon-Raz O, Sanderlin R, Feldman R. Breast milk oxytocin and s-IgA modulate infant biomarkers and social engagement; The role of maternal anxiety. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023, 17: 100219. PMID: 38187086, PMCID: PMC10765300, DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100219.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBreast milkInfant salivaS-IgAInfant biomarkersMaternal anxietyBreast milk compositionMaternal mental healthMother-infant dyadsInfant social behaviorInfant immunityInfant healthSecretory immunoglobulinS-IgA.Mother-infant bondSame biomarkersMental healthAbundant antibodyBiomarkersOxytocinSalivaMental developmentImmunityAssociationDegree of stressHealth
2022
Combinatorial approaches for treating neuropsychiatric social impairment
Wei D, Tsheringla S, McPartland JC, Allsop AZASA. Combinatorial approaches for treating neuropsychiatric social impairment. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences 2022, 377: 20210051. PMID: 35858103, PMCID: PMC9274330, DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0051.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial impairmentSocial behaviorSocial functionNon-invasive brain stimulationMultiple psychiatric conditionsComplex social behaviorsSocial cognitionSocial skillsSocial dysfunctionSocial domainsPsychiatric conditionsBrain stimulationSpecific aspectsNeurobiologyImpairmentSystems neurobiologyOxytocinTheme issueTranslational evidenceCognitionNeural networkPsychotherapySkillsBehaviorDeficitsInterplay between the oxytocin and opioid systems in regulating social behaviour
Putnam PT, Chang SWC. Interplay between the oxytocin and opioid systems in regulating social behaviour. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences 2022, 377: 20210050. PMID: 35858101, PMCID: PMC9272147, DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0050.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
The biological bases of attachment
Oliveira P, Fearon P. The biological bases of attachment. Adoption & Fostering 2019, 43: 274-293. DOI: 10.1177/0308575919867770.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPatterns of attachmentTemperament stylesBiological basisBrain mechanismsHuman attachmentDevelopmental scienceAttachment behaviorRole of biologyEvolutionary rootsAttachment processNeighbouring disciplinesAttachmentResearch studiesMaltreatmentRole of geneticsStyleImportant evidenceOxytocinImplicationsFindingsDifferencesResearchLifespanBehaviorOxytocin and early parent-infant interactions: A systematic review
Scatliffe N, Casavant S, Vittner D, Cong X. Oxytocin and early parent-infant interactions: A systematic review. International Journal Of Nursing Sciences 2019, 6: 445-453. PMID: 31728399, PMCID: PMC6838998, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.09.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSkin-to-skin contactMaternal oxytocin levelsParent-infant contactMother-infantOxytocin levelsElectronic databasesSystematic reviewInclusion criteriaMother-infant contactSystematic searchMaternal-InfantFather-infant interactionsSocial factorsHigher oxytocin levelsReview studiesOxytocinergic mechanismsEarly contactSocial relationshipsInfant interactionsOxytocin releaseOxytocinMothersParentsInfantsInfancy periodDynamic DNA methylation changes in the maternal oxytocin gene locus (OXT) during pregnancy predict postpartum maternal intrusiveness
Toepfer P, O'Donnell KJ, Entringer S, Garg E, Heim CM, Lin DTS, MacIsaac JL, Kobor MS, Meaney MJ, Provençal N, Binder EB, Wadhwa PD, Buss C. Dynamic DNA methylation changes in the maternal oxytocin gene locus (OXT) during pregnancy predict postpartum maternal intrusiveness. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019, 103: 156-162. PMID: 30690225, PMCID: PMC6554513, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.01.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLate pregnancyMaternal behaviorMonths postpartumEarly postnatal developmentNovel potential biomarkersRace/ethnicityPregnancy inducesPeripheral bloodPregnancyMother-child dyadsPostnatal maternal behaviourPostnatal developmentPotential biomarkersSteroid hormonesDNA methylationSocioeconomic statusWhole bloodPromoter DNA methylationMother-child interactionPostpartumBloodDNA methylation changesOxytocinDNAm trajectoriesMaternal intrusiveness
2018
The Neurobiology of Borderline Personality Disorder
Perez-Rodriguez M, Bulbena-Cabré A, Nia A, Zipursky G, Goodman M, New A. The Neurobiology of Borderline Personality Disorder. Psychiatric Clinics Of North America 2018, 41: 633-650. PMID: 30447729, DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2018.07.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBorderline personality disorderPersonality disorderCore characteristics of borderline personality disorderCharacteristics of borderline personality disorderModels of borderline personality disorderNeurobiology of borderline personality disorderStructural brain imagingAffective instabilityInterpersonal dysfunctionImpaired interoceptionNeurobiological informationCourse of developmentBrain imagingInteroceptionNeurobiologyPoor attachmentCore characteristicsDisordersAlexithymiaImpairmentBorderlineOxytocinHeritabilityDysfunctionAttachment
2017
Increase in Oxytocin From Skin-to-Skin Contact Enhances Development of Parent–Infant Relationship
Vittner D, McGrath J, Robinson J, Lawhon G, Cusson R, Eisenfeld L, Walsh S, Young E, Cong X. Increase in Oxytocin From Skin-to-Skin Contact Enhances Development of Parent–Infant Relationship. Biological Research For Nursing 2017, 20: 54-62. PMID: 29017336, DOI: 10.1177/1099800417735633.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSkin-to-skin contactNeonatal intensive care unitStable preterm infantsOT levelsSkin-to-skinParent-infant contactIntensive care unitRandomized Crossover StudySC levelsPreterm infantsHigher OT levelsCrossover studyOT releaseParental OTParental anxiety scoresDay 1Care unitSalivary cortisolPre-SSCInfant stressInfantsPost-SSCParent-infant interactionOxytocinSaliva samplesOxytocin under opioid antagonism leads to supralinear enhancement of social attention
Dal Monte O, Piva M, Anderson KM, Tringides M, Holmes AJ, Chang SWC. Oxytocin under opioid antagonism leads to supralinear enhancement of social attention. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114: 5247-5252. PMID: 28461466, PMCID: PMC5441805, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1702725114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial attentionMutual eye contactSocial cognitionReward receiptParticular social importanceEfficacy of oxytocinEye contactSocial dysfunctionOpioid antagonismSocial contextGaze interactionHuman brainEntire sessionOxytocinΚ-opioid receptor geneFacial regionOT geneAttentionCognitionSocial importanceStrong effectMonkeysOpioid systemSessionsContextOxytocin and Stress-related Disorders: Neurobiological Mechanisms and Treatment Opportunities
Sippel LM, Allington CE, Pietrzak RH, Harpaz-Rotem I, Mayes LC, Olff M. Oxytocin and Stress-related Disorders: Neurobiological Mechanisms and Treatment Opportunities. Chronic Stress 2017, 1: 2470547016687996. PMID: 28649672, PMCID: PMC5482285, DOI: 10.1177/2470547016687996.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStress-related disordersStress-related psychiatric disordersNeurobiological mechanismsPosttraumatic stress disorderCritical moderating variablePsychiatric disordersStress disorderNeurohormone oxytocinClinical populationsEndogenous oxytocinModerating variableHeterogeneous findingsHealthy samplesOverview of evidenceSingle-dose studyMajor depressive disorderPromising findingsOxytocinDisordersDepressive disorderDosing schedulesNovel pharmacotherapiesMultidose studyReliable biomarkersTreatment opportunities
2016
Intranasal Oxytocin Enhances Connectivity in the Neural Circuitry Supporting Social Motivation and Social Perception in Children with Autism
Gordon I, Jack A, Pretzsch CM, Vander Wyk B, Leckman JF, Feldman R, Pelphrey KA. Intranasal Oxytocin Enhances Connectivity in the Neural Circuitry Supporting Social Motivation and Social Perception in Children with Autism. Scientific Reports 2016, 6: 35054. PMID: 27845765, PMCID: PMC5109935, DOI: 10.1038/srep35054.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutism spectrum disorderIntranasal oxytocinSocial motivationSocial perceptionSocial-emotional informationFunctional magnetic resonance imagingPlacebo-controlled crossover designBiological motionSocial stimuliAngry voicesSocial deficitsSpectrum disorderOT administrationMesolimbic reward pathwayBehavioral treatmentBrain rewardReduced connectivityBrain regionsReward pathwayCortical sitesRewardPerceptionMotivationOxytocinBrain sites
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