Oxytocin in Opiate Dependence: A Pilot Study of the Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Emotional Processes and Stress Responses in Patients With Opiate Dependence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Opiate dependence is a serious problem, and oxytocin has many properties which make it attractive as a treatment for this type of substance dependence. This experiment will test the effects of oxytocin on a variety of brain-based processes in patients with opiate dependence. The investigators hypothesize that intranasal oxytocin in these conditions will enhance emotional processing and will have beneficial effects on stress responses in opiate-dependent patients.

Official Title
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Oxytocin in Opiate Dependence: A Double-blind, Within-subjects, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study of the Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Emotional Processes and Stress Responses in Patients With Opiate Dependence

Conditions
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Opiate Dependence

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Oxytocin


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: adult men 18 years or older meet DSM-IV criteria for opiate dependence, and no other active substance dependence disorder save nicotine dependence clinically stable, and low risk for suicide as determined by principal investigator and screening questionnaire abstinent from non-prescribed opiate use for at least two weeks from Baseline 1 and free from opiate withdrawal symptoms. If on agonist therapy, dose must be stable for 2 weeks before study visit. must be able to use nasal spray negative salivary drug screen, save for opiates Exclusion Criteria: any active medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator will interfere with the objectives of the study any active, severe mental illness, neurological disorder, including schizophrenia, autism, Asperger's syndrome are unsuitable in any way to participate in this study, in the opinion of the investigator hospitalizations due to complications of an Axis 1 disorder for the past 12 months, excluding drug or alcohol rehabilitation any clinically significant chronic pain condition, as determined by the principal investigator positive salivary drug screen at the time of the visit, for any substance other than opiates or another prescribed medication

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: oxytocin<br> | Drug: Oxytocin<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cold Pressor Task | The Cold Pressure task involves placing a hand or forearm in cold water, a stimulus that produces a slowly mounting pain of mild to moderate intensity and is terminated by voluntary withdrawal of the limb. The cold pressor task has been used in many studies of pain, autonomic reactivity, and hormonal stress responses. | up to 5 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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oxytocin