Social Safety Learning in the Brain Oxytocin System
Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Social Phobia
In brief
The investigators are conducting this research study to examine whether oxytocin enhances social safety learning (learning safety through the experience of another individual) in people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) compared to healthy volunteers. Oxytocin is a hormone that can also act as a chemical messenger in the brain. Oxytocin plays a role in a number of functions, including responding to fear and social interactions. In this study, the investigators would like to compare the effects of oxytocin and placebo nasal sprays in adults with SAD and healthy adults. This research study will compare an oxytocin nasal spray to a placebo nasal spray. About 120 people will take part in this research study, all at the University of Washington (UW).
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT05968651
- Run by
- University of Washington
- People needed
- 121
- Starts
- 2023-06-26
- Expected to finish
- 2024-09-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-11
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- For Clinical Sample
- Men and women age 18-45
- Women must be having regular menstrual cycles and not be taking oral contraception
- Primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder
- For Healthy Sample
- Men and women age 18-45
- Women must be having regular menstrual cycles and not be taking oral contraception
- No current or lifetime history of psychiatric, neurological, or medical disorders
You may not qualify if…
- For All Groups
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Positive urine drug screening test result
- History of nasal pathology
- Current use of any psychotropic medication or steroids
- Active substance use disorder within the past 6 months
- History of serious medical illnesses or untreated endocrine diseases
- History of head injury, neurological disorder, or neurosurgical procedure
- Positive magnetic resonance (MR) screen
- For Clinical Sample
- Lifetime diagnoses of mania or psychotic disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM- 5th ed)
- Acute suicidal ideation
- For Healthy Sample
- Lifetime DSM-5 diagnosis of any medical, neurological, or psychiatric illness
Where it is running
- University of Washington — Seattle, Washington, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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