Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin and Vasopressin on Social Behavior

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of a one-time intranasal administration of the oxytocin, vasopressin, or placebo on prosocial decision making such as cooperation and altruism in a healthy population of student controls.

Official Title
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Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin and Vasopressin on Social Behavior in Healthy Controls

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Oxytocin
* Drug: Arginine Vasopressin
* Drug: placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: healthy controls Exclusion Criteria: Past or present psychiatric, neurological, endocrinological or severe chronic medical illness. Use of medications or drugs that would interfere with study results. This includes steroids, medications for psychiatric symptoms like anxiety or depression, stimulants, and medications for high blood pressure. Participants will be asked to tell the investigators of any medications or drugs that they are taking. The investigators will consider the drug interactions with oxytocin and vasopressin prior to study, and participants will not be able to participate in the study if the drug interactions could be dangerous. history of drug or alcohol addiction Pregnancy or Nursing Status: Because of the risk to an unborn fetus or infant, women who are pregnant or nursing are excluded from this protocol. All females will have a pregnancy test performed no more than 24 hours before each drug administration and will not be able to participate if the pregnancy test is positive.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Vasopressin<br>vasopressin condition | Drug: Arginine Vasopressin<br>* one-time intranasal administration, 20 International Units, 5 puffs in each nostril<br>|
| Experimental: oxytocin<br>oxytocin condition (syntocinon) | Drug: Oxytocin<br>* one-time intranasal administration, 24 International Units, 5 puffs for each nostril<br>* Other names: syntocinon;|
| Placebo Comparator: placebo<br> | Drug: placebo<br>* contains all the ingredients as in the oxytocin and vasopressin conditions, save for the active ingredient, one time intranasal administration, 5 puffs in each nostril<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| allocations of monetary units | Participants will make decisions regarding the allocation of monetary units between themselves and other participants. We will measure the quantity of monetary units kept for themselves vs. given to other participants | approximately 45 minutes after intranasal administration of vasopressin, oxytocin, or placebo | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| mood as measured via the visual analog scale |  | approximately one hour and fifteen minutes after administration of oxytocin, vasopressin or placebo | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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social cognition, oxytocin, vasopressin, decision making, social decision making