Can Oxytocin Enhance the Placebo Effect?

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The current study aimed to investigate whether oxytocin (OXT) had effect on placebo effect.

Detailed Description
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The current study included three phases to investigate oxytocin effect on placebo effect: In a double-blind, between-subject, placebo controlled design study to investigate the intranasal OXT (24IU) treatment in 66 healthy male subjects using working memory task. In a single-blind(subjects were informed that the treatment was oxytocin), between-subject, placebo controlled design study to investigate the intranasal OXT (24IU) treatment in 53 healthy male subjects using working memory task.They were informed that oxytocin would increase memory perfomance by a female experimenter. In a single-blind(subjects were informed that the treatment was oxytocin), between-subject, placebo controlled design study to investigate the intranasal OXT (24IU) treatment in 53 healthy male subjects using working memory task. But the subjects were told that oxytocin would decrease the performance by the same female experimenter. In a single-blind(subjects were informed that the treatment was oxytocin), between-subject, placebo controlled design study to investigate the intranasal OXT (24IU) treatment in 52 healthy male subjects using working memory task. The subjects were told that oxytocin would increase the performance by a male experimenter. Memory performance was included as dependant factor. All subjects completed a range of questionnaires measuring personality and affective traits and levels of anxiety: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Interpersonal Trust Scale(ITS).

Official Title
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Can Oxytocin Enhance the Placebo Effect?

Conditions
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Oxytocin Effect on Memory Performance During Phase 1, Oxytocin Effect on Memory Performance During Phase 2, Oxytocin Effect on Memory Performance During Phase 3, Oxytocin Effect on Memory Performance During Phase 4

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Oxytocin
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorder Exclusion Criteria: history of head injury; claustrophobia; medical or psychiatric illness.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

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: Oxytocin<br>Oxytocin nasal spray | Drug: Oxytocin<br> <br> |
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Placebo nasal spray | Drug: Placebo<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Memory performance in different phases | N-back memory performance (accuracy) was included into analysis. | 1 hour | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Placebo effect, Working memory