The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration on
social cognition in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), examine the
effects of intranasal oxytocin administration on opioid craving and on the subjective effects
of methadone, and examine the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration on implicit
preferences for drug-related and social stimuli in patients receiving MMT.
Hypothesis 1: Patients will perform better on measures of social cognition (including affect
recognition and recognition of sarcasm) after administration of oxytocin compared with
placebo.
Hypothesis 2: Patients will demonstrate lower craving for opioids and greater subjective
effects of methadone after administration of oxytocin compared with placebo.
Hypothesis 3: Patients will demonstrate increased implicit preferences for social stimuli and
decreased implicit preferences for drug related stimuli after administration of oxytocin
compared with placebo.