Results showed no significant effects on core symptomatology .
In conclusion , up to date , evidence regarding the potential utility of IN-OT in treating anxiety and depression is still inconclusive .
Several studies have demonstrated the neuromodulating function of oxytocin ( OT ) in response to anxiogenic stimuli as well as its potential role in the pathogenesis of depression .
Consequently , intranasal OT ( IN-OT ) has been proposed as a potential treatment of  anxiety and depressive disorders .
The present systematic review aim ed to summarize the r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) evaluating the effect of IN-OT on anxiety and depressive symptoms .
Oxytocin promotes protective behavior in depressed mothers: a pilot study with the enthusiastic stranger paradigm.
BACKGROUND Successful parenting requires maternal behaviors that promote infant survival such as protection from predators . In animal studies , oxytocin ( OT ) has been linked to maternal aggression to protect offspring . No human study has explored this topic . Mothers with a diagnosis of postnatal depression ( PND ) are at higher risk of neglecting their infants . We hypothesized that intranasal OT administration would increase the protective behaviors of mothers with PND , toward their infants . METHODS Sixteen mothers with a diagnosis of PND participated in a double-blind , r and omized-controlled , within-subject pilot study . Participants received intranasal OT during one visit and placebo spray on the alternate visit . Maternal protective behavior toward their infant was measured , in the presence of a socially intrusive stranger . RESULTS The enthusiastic stranger paradigm stimulated participants ' protective responses in the presence of an intrusive stranger . Furthermore , this protective response of mothers with a diagnosis of PND was increased in the OT condition . CONCLUSIONS The study introduces a new paradigm , the enthusiastic stranger paradigm , which may be used to examine a neglected type of parental behavior , that is , protection of offspring . The protective response of mothers with PND increased , in line with the ' tend and defend ' effects of OT in animal models . In future work it should be tested whether this protection effect can also be found in non clinical sample s , or whether it is specific for clinical ly depressed mothers
Results showed no significant effects on core symptomatology .
In conclusion , up to date , evidence regarding the potential utility of IN-OT in treating anxiety and depression is still inconclusive .
Several studies have demonstrated the neuromodulating function of oxytocin ( OT ) in response to anxiogenic stimuli as well as its potential role in the pathogenesis of depression .
Consequently , intranasal OT ( IN-OT ) has been proposed as a potential treatment of  anxiety and depressive disorders .
The present systematic review aim ed to summarize the r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) evaluating the effect of IN-OT on anxiety and depressive symptoms .