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 .
Modulation of Resting-State Amygdala-Frontal Functional Connectivity by Oxytocin in Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder
Generalized social anxiety disorder ( GSAD ) is characterized by aberrant patterns of amygdala-frontal connectivity to social signals of threat and at rest . The neuropeptide oxytocin ( OXT ) modulates anxiety , stress , and social behaviors . Recent functional neuroimaging studies suggest that these effects are mediated through OXT ’s effects on amygdala reactivity and /or amygdala-frontal connectivity . The aim of the current study was to examine OXT ’s effects on amygdala-frontal resting-state functional connectivity ( rsFC ) in GSAD patients and healthy controls ( HCs ) . In a r and omized , double-blind , cross-over design , 18 GSAD and 18 HC participants received intranasal OXT ( 24 IU or 40.32 μg ) or placebo ( PBO ) before resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging . In individuals with GSAD , OXT enhanced rsFC of the left and right amygdala with rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/medial prefrontal cortex ( mPFC ) , and in doing so , reversed ( ie , ‘ normalized ’ ) the reduced amygdala-frontal connectivity observed relative to HCs evident on PBO . Higher social anxiety severity in GSAD subjects correlated with lower amygdala-ACC/mPFC connectivity on PBO and higher social anxiety also correlated with greater enhancement in amygdala-frontal connectivity induced by OXT . These findings show that OXT modulates a neural circuit known for social threat processing and emotion regulation , suggesting a neural mechanism by which OXT may have a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of social anxiety disorder
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 .