Effect of Oxytocin on Stress Response in Cocaine-dependent Individuals
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Stress is associated with drug craving and relapse in substance-dependent individuals.
Hormones released from the brain may mediate the behavioral response to stress. For example,
several studies have indicated that oxytocin reduces stress in laboratory stress paradigms.
Specifically, it appears that oxytocin promotes trust, social interaction, and calmness; yet,
little is known about the potential affects of oxytocin in cocaine-dependent individuals.
Given these properties of oxytocin, it may have a therapeutic role in ameliorating the
negative affect commonly observed prior to relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals, as well
as the anxiety associated with withdrawal. This pilot protocol will provide important
preliminary data on the effect of oxytocin on stress in cocaine-dependent individuals.