Oxytocin Suppresses Substance Use Disorders Associated With Chronic Stress
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
In comparison to the general population, military personnel and veterans are at increased
risk of developing both substance use disorders (SUDs) and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). Despite promising developments in the past decade, the treatment of patients with
SUDs and comorbid PTSD is woefully inadequate (Back, 2010; Back et al., 2014; Brady et al.,
2007; McCauley et al., 2012). One of the adverse effects of abused drugs is their long-term
negative impact on social behavior that is thought to involve oxytocin (OT) dysregulation
(McGregor et al., 2008). In preclinical and clinical experiments, local, intra-nasal, or
systemic OT administration decreases activation of the amygdala in response to visual
fearful/threatening stimuli (Kirsch et al., 2005), ameliorates the effects of stressful
events, and decreases drug-taking and seeking behavior (McGregor et al., 2008; Baskerville
and Douglas, 2010; Carson et al., 2010a; Bowen et al., 2011; Cox et al 2013). However, little
attention has been focused on whether OT decreases SUD vulnerability after exposure to
traumatic stress in preclinical or clinical studies. This clinical project will determine
whether intra-nasally administered OT will decrease craving (Aim 1) to use alcohol and
decrease stress reactivity (Aim 2) following exposure to laboratory-induced stress (Trier
Social Stress Task) among veterans with a dual diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and PTSD.