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 .
The effect of oxytocin on attention to angry and happy faces in chronic depression
Background Chronic depression is characterized by a high degree of early life trauma , psychosocial impairment , and deficits in social cognition . Undisturbed recognition and processing of facial emotions are basic prerequisites for smooth social interactions . Intranasal application of the neuropeptide oxytocin has been reported to enhance emotion recognition in neuropsychiatric disorders and healthy individuals . We therefore investigated whether oxytocin modulates attention to emotional faces in patients with chronic depression . Methods In this double-blind , r and omized , controlled study , 43 patients received a single dose of oxytocin or placebo nasal spray and were tested while fulfilling a facial dot probe task . We assessed reaction times to  neutral probes  presented at the location of one of two faces depicting happy , angry , or neutral expressions as a prime . Results When comparing reaction times to the congruent ( prime and probe at the same location ) with incongruent presentation of facial emotions , neither the placebo nor oxytocin group showed an attentional preference for emotional facial expressions in terms of a threat bias . However , oxytocin treatment did reveal two specific effects : it generally reduced the allocation of attention towards angry facial expressions , and it increased sustained attention towards happy faces , specifically under conditions of heightened awareness , i.e. trials with longer primes . Conclusions We investigated a heterogeneous group of medicated male and female patients . We conclude that oxytocin does modulate basic factors of facial emotion processing in chronic depression . Our findings encourage further investigations assessing the therapeutic potential of oxytocin in chronic depression . Trial registration EUDRA-CT 2010 - 020956 - 69 . Date registered : 23 February 2011
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 .