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 enhances resting-state connectivity between amygdala and medial frontal cortex.
The neuropeptide oxytocin ( OXT ) plays an important role in complex socio-affective behaviours such as affiliation , attachment , stress and anxiety . Previous studies have focused on the amygdala as an important target of OXT 's effects . However , the effects of OXT on connectivity of the amygdala with cortical regions such as medial frontal cortex , an important mediator of social cognition and emotion regulation , remain unexplored . In a r and omized , double-blind , cross-over design , 15 volunteers received intranasal OXT or placebo prior to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging . OXT significantly increased connectivity between both amygdalae and rostral medial frontal cortex ( rmFC ) , while having only negligible effects on coupling with other brain regions . These results demonstrate that OXT is a robust and highly selective enhancer of amygdala connectivity with rmFC , a region critical to social cognition and emotion regulation , and add to our underst and ing of the neural mechanisms by which OXT modulates complex social and cognitive behaviours
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 .