MedPath

Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin in Patients With Arginine-vasopressin Deficiency

Phase 1
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Vasopressin Deficiency
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04789148
Lead Sponsor
Elizabeth Austen Lawson
Brief Summary

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study of single-dose intranasal oxytocin (6 IU and 24 IU) vs. placebo in adult men and women (aged 18 years and above) with arginine-vasopressin deficiency to evaluate the effect of oxytocin on anxiety, depression, and socioemotional functioning (Part A), with an optional randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2-week repeated dose substudy of intranasal oxytocin 6 IU or placebo (Part B).

Following a screening visit to determine eligibility, participants will return for three main study visits in Part A. During the main study visits, study participants will receive either oxytocin or placebo, followed by assessments of emotional behavior.

In Part A, thirty participants will be equally randomized to one of six possible groups:

1. 6 IU oxytocin - 24 IU oxytocin - placebo

2. 6 IU oxytocin - placebo - 24 IU oxytocin

3. 24 IU oxytocin - 6 IU oxytocin - placebo

4. 24 IU oxytocin - placebo - 6 IU oxytocin

5. placebo - 6 IU oxytocin - 24 IU oxytocin

6. placebo - 24 IU oxytocin - 6 IU oxytocin

Following completion of the Part A crossover portion of the study, in Part B participants may also choose to continue participation in an optional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled substudy of intranasal oxytocin 6 IU or placebo three times a day for two weeks, followed by assessments of emotional behavior.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18 and above
  • Arginine-vasopressin deficiency
  • Normal FT4 or T4
  • Normal serum/plasma sodium
  • Stable hormone replacement
Exclusion Criteria
  • Active substance use disorder within the last 6 months
  • History of psychosis
  • Suicidal behavior and/or active suicidal ideation with plan and/or intent, e.g., suicidal ideation of type 4 or type 5 as assessed by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), in the last month
  • Medication changes within 4 weeks of enrollment or planned medication changes during the study
  • History of chronic nasal obstruction or local pathology in nostril pathway which, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent appropriate nasal administration of the study drug.
  • History of cardiac disease, including arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, coronary artery spasms, valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hypertension is not exclusionary)
  • History of chronic kidney disease stage III and above
  • History of liver cirrhosis
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding within the last 8 weeks
  • Unwilling to use a medically acceptable form of contraception throughout the study period (female of child-bearing potential only)
  • Any significant illness, condition, drug or medical device that the Investigator determines could interfere with study participation, data collection, or safety

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Part A Arm 1Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Main visit 1: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: intranasal placebo
Part A Arm 5PlaceboMain visit 1: intranasal placebo; Main visit 2: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part B Arm 1Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Intranasal oxytocin 6 IU three times a day for 14 days
Part A Arm 1PlaceboMain visit 1: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: intranasal placebo
Part A Arm 2Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Main visit 1: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: intranasal placebo; Main visit 3: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part A Arm 2PlaceboMain visit 1: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: intranasal placebo; Main visit 3: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part A Arm 3Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Main visit 1: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: intranasal placebo
Part A Arm 3PlaceboMain visit 1: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: intranasal placebo
Part A Arm 4Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Main visit 1: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: intranasal placebo; Main visit 3: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part A Arm 4PlaceboMain visit 1: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 2: intranasal placebo; Main visit 3: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part A Arm 5Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Main visit 1: intranasal placebo; Main visit 2: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part A Arm 6Intranasal Oxytocin (IN-OXT)Main visit 1: intranasal placebo; Main visit 2: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin
Part B Arm 2PlaceboIntranasal placebo three times a day for 14 days
Part A Arm 6PlaceboMain visit 1: intranasal placebo; Main visit 2: 24 IU intranasal oxytocin; Main visit 3: 6 IU intranasal oxytocin
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Dot-probe task - anxious behavior between low dose oxytocin and placebo20 minutes following intervention at each main visit

Difference in response times (in milliseconds) to dots appearing in the location of the previously shown negative versus the neutral face between 6 IU oxytocin vs placebo in the dot-probe task.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Socioemotional functioning - Emotion recognition task between all three interventions40 minutes following intervention at each main visit

Accuracy in identifying correct emotion between 6 IU oxytocin, 24 IU oxytocin, and placebo in the emotion recognition task.

Dot-probe task - anxious behavior between all three interventions20 minutes following intervention

Difference in response time (in milliseconds) to dots appearing in the location of the previously shown negative versus neutral face between 6 IU oxytocin, 24 IU oxytocin, and placebo in the dot-probe task.

Depressive behavior - probabilistic reward task between all three interventions30 minutes following intervention at each main visit

Response bias developed toward the more frequently reinforced alternative between 6 IU oxytocin, 24 IU oxytocin, and placebo in the probabilistic reward task.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital, Neuroendocrine Unit

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Massachusetts General Hospital, Neuroendocrine Unit
🇺🇸Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Francesca Galbiati, MD
Contact
(617) 726-3870
fgalbiati@bwh.harvard.edu
Elisa Asanza, MSN, MPH
Contact
617-726-3870
easanza@mgh.harvard.edu

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.