Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and oxytocin: A meta-analytic investigation of endogenous concentrations and receptor genotype

Engel, Sinha; Klusmann, Hannah; Laufer, Sebastian; Pfeifer, Ann-Christin; Ditzen, Beate; Zuiden, Mirjam van; Knaevelsrud, Christine; Schumacher, Sarah

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.003

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…However, "secure" attachment or a "sense of safety," as used in psychologic research, is a theoretical construct, which must be translated into physiologic states. The relationship between oxytocin and trauma in adulthood has not yielded consistent results (Engel et al, 2019), and perhaps a fuller consideration of early life experience could resolve this. Thus, psychologic context can manifest as physiology, with consequences for the actions of oxytocin and vasopressin; this of course complicates the attempts to study these peptides in clinical populations.…”

Section: A Postpartum Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”?

et al. 2020

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Section: A Postpartum Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”?

et al. 2020

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“…Eligibility criteria, which were assessed before participation, included mental and physical health-related aspects and have been listed previously [11] and in the supplement information. As the menstrual cycle has been shown to have an impact on endogenous oxytocin levels [55] and intrusion formation [56, 57], participants, with no usage of hormonal contraception, were tested during their luteal phase only. Pregnancy was ruled out, using HCG ULTRA pregnancy tests.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin vs. placebo effects on intrusive memory consolidation using a trauma film paradigm: a randomized, controlled experimental study in healthy women

Maslahati

Wingenfeld

Hellmann-Regen

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Oxytocin administration during a trauma analogue has been shown to increase intrusive memories, which are a core symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, it is unknown whether oxytocin influences the acquisition or the consolidation of the trauma. The current study investigates the effect of the activation of the oxytocin system during the consolidation of an analogue trauma on the formation of intrusive memories over four consecutive days and whether this effect is influenced by individual neurobiological, genetic, or psychological factors. We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 217 healthy women. They received either a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo after exposure to a trauma film paradigm, which reliably induces intrusive memories. We used a general random forest to examine a potential heterogeneous treatment effect of oxytocin on the consolidation of intrusive memories. Furthermore, we used a poisson regression to examine whether salivary alpha amylase activity (sAA) as a marker of noradrenergic activity and cortisol response to the film, polygenic risk score (PRS) for psychiatric disorders, and psychological factors influence the number of intrusive memories. We found no significant effect of oxytocin on the formation of intrusive memories (t(-0.85) = 201.72, p = 0.40, Cohen’s d = 0.12, 95% CI -0.02–0.26) and identified no heterogeneous treatment effect. We replicated previous associations of the PRS for PTSD, sAA and the cortisol response on intrusive memories. We further found a positive association between high trait anxiety and intrusive memories, and a negative association between the emotion regulation strategy reappraisal and intrusive memories. Data of the present study suggest that the consolidation of intrusive memories is modulated by genetic, neurobiological and psychological factors, but is not influenced by oxytocin. Trial registration: NCT03875391.

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“…Exogenously administered OXT promotes a faster recovery after the stress response ( Heinrichs, Baumgartner, Kirschbaum, & Ehlert, 2003 ; Kubzansky, Mendes, Appleton, Block, & Adler, 2012 ), and it attenuates salivary cortisol elevations after a physical stressor ( Cardoso, Ellenbogen, Orlando, Bacon, & Joober, 2013 ). Endogenous OXT levels are frequently measured in the periphery and lower endogenous OXT levels after traumatic experiences are associated with developing PTSD ( Donadon, Martin-Santos, & Osório, 2018 ), even though endogenous OXT levels of individuals who suffer from PTSD and those of healthy controls did not differ ( Engel et al, 2019 ). Interestingly, OXT and cortisol levels are positively correlated when participants were able to anticipate a stressor ( Brown, Cardoso, & Ellenbogen, 2016 ).…”

Section: Stress Physiology and The Roles Of Oxytocin And Cortisolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medication-enhanced psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Recent findings on oxytocin’s involvement in the neurobiology and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

Preckel

Trautmann

Kanske

2021

Clin. Psychol. Eur.

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Background Traumatic experiences may result in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is characterized as an exaggerated fear response that cannot be extinguished over time or in safe environments. What are beneficial psychotherapeutic treatment options for PTSD patients? Can oxytocin (OXT), which is involved in the stress response, and safety learning, ameliorate PTSD symptomatology and enhance psychotherapeutic effects? Here, we will review recent studies regarding OXT’s potential to enhance psychotherapeutic therapies for PTSD treatment. Method We conducted a literature review on the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD especially focusing on OXT’s involvement in the biology and memory formation of PTSD. Furthermore, we researched successful psychotherapeutic treatments for PTSD patients and discuss how OXT may facilitate observed psychotherapeutic effects. Results For a relevant proportion of PTSD patients, existing psychotherapies are not beneficial. OXT may be a promising candidate to enhance psychotherapeutic effects, because it dampens responses to stressful events and allows for a faster recovery after stress. On a neural basis, OXT modulates processes that are involved in stress, arousal and memory. OXT effectively counteracts memory impairments caused by stress and facilitates social support seeking which is a key resilience factor for PTSD and which is beneficial in psychotherapeutic settings. Conclusion OXT has many characteristics that are promising to positively influence psychotherapy for PTSD patients. It potentially reduces intrusions, but preserves memory of the event itself. Introducing OXT into psychotherapeutic settings may result in better treatment outcomes for PTSD patients. Future research should directly investigate OXT’s effects on PTSD, especially in psychotherapeutic settings.

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Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and oxytocin: A meta-analytic investigation of endogenous concentrations and receptor genotype

Cited by 20 publications

References 90 publications

Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”?

Is Oxytocin “Nature’s Medicine”?

Oxytocin vs. placebo effects on intrusive memory consolidation using a trauma film paradigm: a randomized, controlled experimental study in healthy women

Medication-enhanced psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Recent findings on oxytocin’s involvement in the neurobiology and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

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