Intranasal Oxytocin and Maternal Neglect

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2019-03-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The investigators plan to conduct functional MRI scanning with a group of mothers who are blindly and randomly assigned either intranasal oxytocin or a placebo. The purpose of this investigation is to explore how oxytocin may modify early maternal brain and behavioral responses to infant cues. This study will examine, for the first time, a potential pharmacological intervention for maternal neglect which targets core neurobiological deficits. This may eventually be used to supplement and augment other psychosocial and behavioral interventions.

In addition, the investigators will examine sex differences in parental brain and behavioral responses to oxytocin by also recruiting fathers to participate in a similar protocol.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine
• Collaborator: University of Iowa
• Treatments: Oxytocin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

In order to fulfill enrollment criteria, the women must:

1. be first-time parent(s)

2. who have just delivered a term infant >37 weeks gestation, without medical complications.

She should be:

3. aged between 20 and 45 years;

4. and be English speaking from childhood (required for accurate coding of attachment interview).

For male partners:

1. First-time fathers;

2. have female partners who just delivered a term infant >37 weeks gestation, without medical complications;

3. aged between 20 and 45 years;

4. English speaking from childhood

Exclusion Criteria:

Those who meet the following, will be excluded:

1. History of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for >10 minutes;

2. neurological disease, including stroke, brain tumor, meningitis or encephalitis;

3. any contraindications to MRI scanning, e.g. pacemakers, aneurysm clips, neurostimulators, fixed hearing devices, metal in eyes, or other implants;

4. previous inability to tolerate MRI scanning procedure, or claustrophobia; and

5. a past history of drug addiction or serious psychopathology, other than anxiety or depression.