Oxytocin in Opiate Dependence: A Pilot Study of the Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Emotional Processes and Stress Responses in Patients With Opiate Dependence

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Male

Summary

Opiate dependence is a serious problem, and oxytocin has many properties which make it attractive as a treatment for this type of substance dependence. This experiment will test the effects of oxytocin on a variety of brain-based processes in patients with opiate dependence. The investigators hypothesize that intranasal oxytocin in these conditions will enhance emotional processing and will have beneficial effects on stress responses in opiate-dependent patients.

• Phase: Phase 1

Details

• Lead Sponsor: MacDonald, Kai, M.D.
• Treatments: Oxytocin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult men 18 years or older

• meet DSM-IV criteria for opiate dependence, and no other active substance dependence disorder save nicotine dependence

• clinically stable, and low risk for suicide as determined by principal investigator and screening questionnaire

• abstinent from non-prescribed opiate use for at least two weeks from Baseline 1 and free from opiate withdrawal symptoms. If on agonist therapy, dose must be stable for 2 weeks before study visit.

• must be able to use nasal spray

• negative salivary drug screen, save for opiates

Exclusion Criteria:

• any active medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator will interfere with the objectives of the study

• any active, severe mental illness, neurological disorder, including schizophrenia, autism, Asperger's syndrome

• are unsuitable in any way to participate in this study, in the opinion of the investigator

• hospitalizations due to complications of an Axis 1 disorder for the past 12 months, excluding drug or alcohol rehabilitation

• any clinically significant chronic pain condition, as determined by the principal investigator

• positive salivary drug screen at the time of the visit, for any substance other than opiates or another prescribed medication