TY - JOUR
T1 - A double-edged hormone
T2 - The moderating role of personality and attachment on oxytocin's treatment facilitation effect
AU - Tzur Bitan, Dana
AU - Grossman-Giron, Ariella
AU - Sedoff, Omer
AU - Zilcha-Mano, Sigal
AU - Nitzan, Uri
AU - Maoz, Hagai
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Background: Studies exploring the potential augmenting effect of oxytocin for patients with mental disorders have thus far reported mixed effects. However, oxytocin's effect may differ across patients with different interpersonal characteristics. This study aimed to examine the moderating role of attachment and personality traits on the effect of oxytocin administration on the therapeutic working alliance and symptomatic change, among hospitalized patients with severe mental illness. Methods: Patients (N = 87) were randomly assigned to receive oxytocin or placebo, as an add-on to psychotherapy for a period of four weeks, in two inpatient units. Therapeutic alliance and symptomatic change were measured weekly, and personality and attachment were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Results: Oxytocin administration was significantly associated with improvement of depression (B=2.12, SE=0.82, t = 2.56, p = .012), and suicidal ideation (B=0.03, SE=0.01, t = 2.44, p = .016) for patients low in openness and extraversion, respectively. Nonetheless, oxytocin administration was also significantly associated with a deterioration in the working alliance for patients high in extraversion (B=−0.11, SE=0.04, t = −2.73, p = .007), low in neuroticism (B=0.08, SE=0.03, t = 2.01, p = .047) and low in agreeableness (B=0.11, SE=0.04, t = 2.76, p = .007). Conclusions: Oxytocin may act as a double-edged sword when it comes to its effect on treatment process and outcome. Future studies should focus on routes to characterize patients who might benefit the most from such augmentation. Clinical trial registration: Pre-registration in clinicaltrials.com: NCT03566069; Israel Ministry of Health: MOH_2017–12–05_002003.
AB - Background: Studies exploring the potential augmenting effect of oxytocin for patients with mental disorders have thus far reported mixed effects. However, oxytocin's effect may differ across patients with different interpersonal characteristics. This study aimed to examine the moderating role of attachment and personality traits on the effect of oxytocin administration on the therapeutic working alliance and symptomatic change, among hospitalized patients with severe mental illness. Methods: Patients (N = 87) were randomly assigned to receive oxytocin or placebo, as an add-on to psychotherapy for a period of four weeks, in two inpatient units. Therapeutic alliance and symptomatic change were measured weekly, and personality and attachment were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. Results: Oxytocin administration was significantly associated with improvement of depression (B=2.12, SE=0.82, t = 2.56, p = .012), and suicidal ideation (B=0.03, SE=0.01, t = 2.44, p = .016) for patients low in openness and extraversion, respectively. Nonetheless, oxytocin administration was also significantly associated with a deterioration in the working alliance for patients high in extraversion (B=−0.11, SE=0.04, t = −2.73, p = .007), low in neuroticism (B=0.08, SE=0.03, t = 2.01, p = .047) and low in agreeableness (B=0.11, SE=0.04, t = 2.76, p = .007). Conclusions: Oxytocin may act as a double-edged sword when it comes to its effect on treatment process and outcome. Future studies should focus on routes to characterize patients who might benefit the most from such augmentation. Clinical trial registration: Pre-registration in clinicaltrials.com: NCT03566069; Israel Ministry of Health: MOH_2017–12–05_002003.
KW - Attachment
KW - Oxytocin
KW - Personality
KW - Psychotherapy
KW - Randomized controlled trial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149715296&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106074
DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106074
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AN - SCOPUS:85149715296
SN - 0306-4530
VL - 151
JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology
JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology
M1 - 106074
ER -