Department of Psychology, Ariel University, Israel; Shalvata Mental Health Center, affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Department of Psychology, Ariel University, Israel; Shalvata Mental Health Center, affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2023 May;151:106074. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106074. Epub 2023 Feb 27.
Studies exploring the potential augmenting effect of oxytocin for patients with mental disorders have thus far reported mixed effects. However, oxytocin's effect may differ across patients with different interpersonal characteristics. This study aimed to examine the moderating role of attachment and personality traits on the effect of oxytocin administration on the therapeutic working alliance and symptomatic change, among hospitalized patients with severe mental illness.
Patients (N = 87) were randomly assigned to receive oxytocin or placebo, as an add-on to psychotherapy for a period of four weeks, in two inpatient units. Therapeutic alliance and symptomatic change were measured weekly, and personality and attachment were assessed at pre- and post-intervention.
Oxytocin administration was significantly associated with improvement of depression (B=2.12, SE=0.82, t = 2.56, p = .012), and suicidal ideation (B=0.03, SE=0.01, t = 2.44, p = .016) for patients low in openness and extraversion, respectively. Nonetheless, oxytocin administration was also significantly associated with a deterioration in the working alliance for patients high in extraversion (B=-0.11, SE=0.04, t = -2.73, p = .007), low in neuroticism (B=0.08, SE=0.03, t = 2.01, p = .047) and low in agreeableness (B=0.11, SE=0.04, t = 2.76, p = .007).
Oxytocin may act as a double-edged sword when it comes to its effect on treatment process and outcome. Future studies should focus on routes to characterize patients who might benefit the most from such augmentation.
Pre-registration in clinicaltrials.com: NCT03566069; Israel Ministry of Health: MOH_2017-12-05_002003.
探索催产素对精神障碍患者潜在增强作用的研究迄今报告的结果喜忧参半。然而，催产素的作用可能因具有不同人际特征的患者而有所不同。本研究旨在检验依恋和人格特质在催产素给药对住院严重精神疾病患者治疗联盟和症状变化的影响中的调节作用。
将 87 名患者随机分配到接受催产素或安慰剂组，作为为期四周的心理治疗的附加治疗，在两个住院病房进行。每周测量治疗联盟和症状变化，在干预前后评估人格和依恋。
催产素给药与开放性和外向性得分低的患者的抑郁（B=2.12，SE=0.82，t=2.56，p=0.012）和自杀意念（B=0.03，SE=0.01，t=2.44，p=0.016）的改善显著相关。然而，对于外向性得分高（B=-0.11，SE=0.04，t=-2.73，p=0.007）、神经质得分低（B=0.08，SE=0.03，t=2.01，p=0.047）和宜人性得分低（B=0.11，SE=0.04，t=2.76，p=0.007）的患者，催产素给药也与工作联盟的恶化显著相关。
当涉及到催产素对治疗过程和结果的影响时，它可能是一把双刃剑。未来的研究应集中于确定最有可能从这种增强中受益的患者的特征。
在 clinicaltrials.com 上进行预注册：NCT03566069；以色列卫生部：MOH_2017-12-05_002003。
