Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin and Vasopressin on Social Behavior

Plain-language guide to NCT01296269: not phased randomized trial of Oxytocin and Vasopressin, 150 participants. Who took part, design and what was measured.

Key Facts

Registry ID: NCT01296269
Phase: not phased
Status: status unknown
Start: 2011-04
Completion (planned or actual): 2012-05
Participants: 150 (estimated)
Design: randomized, double-blind, basic_science
Conditions studied: Healthy
Results posted: not yet

What This Study Did, in Plain Language

What Was Tested

This registered not phased trial tested Oxytocin and Vasopressin.

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.

It had three arms (groups): Vasopressin (experimental), oxytocin (experimental) and placebo (placebo comparator).

Vasopressin condition.

Oxytocin condition (syntocinon).

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

Who Took Part

150 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 18 years up to 35 years.

Healthy volunteers could join, not only people with the condition.

The full record lists 1 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: history of drug or alcohol addiction.

How the Study Was Run

It was run as a randomized, parallel-group and double-blind study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Oxytocin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

The Oxytocin group and the comparison group ran side by side rather than switching.

Neither the participants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Oxytocin, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Those kept unaware of assignments: participant and care provider.

It started in 2011-04 with completion listed for 2012-05.

It ran at 1 site in Israel.

Its stated primary purpose is basic science.

What Was Measured

The main thing measured (primary outcome): allocations of monetary units (time frame: approximately 45 minutes after intranasal administration of vasopressin, oxytocin, or placebo).

It also tracked 1 secondary outcome, for example mood as measured via the visual analog scale.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a not phased, randomized trial of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in 150 people.

Its status is unknown; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the Oxytocin compound page and the Vasopressin compound page, all human trials.

Our Notes on the Compounds

Oxytocin: A peptide hormone with established obstetric medical uses and a less settled role in research on behavior, sexual function and appetite.

Vasopressin: A 9-amino-acid hormone (antidiuretic hormone) that controls water balance and blood vessel tone; used in septic shock.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.