Study of the Effects of Oxytocin on Attentional Bias and Startle in PTSD

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2021-06-09
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Male

Summary

The investigators will test whether intranasal oxytocin (24 IU vs placebo) will induce effects on attention bias and startle comparable to those the investigators have shown to be induced by the presence (vs absence) of a service dog in Veterans diagnosed with PTSD. This possibility is suggested by a 2015 study showing that urinary oxytocin levels are elevated in association with mutual gaze between dogs and their owners.

• Phase: Early Phase 1
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
• Treatments: Oxytocin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• US military Veteran

• Current posttraumatic stress disorder

• Medically healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

• DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic disorder

• Active drug or alcohol use disorder within past 90 days

• Currently participating in a clinical drug trial

• Regular nasal obstruction or nosebleeds (use of saline or nasal decongestant permitted if subject has transient cold only)

• Active medical problems: unstable seizures, significant physical illness (e.g., serious liver, renal, or cardiac pathology)

• Sensitivity to preservatives, in particular E 216, E 218, and chlorobutanol hemihydrate

• Significant hearing or vision impairments

• Habitually drinks large volumes of water