Trial Outcomes & Findings for Effect of Oxytocin Nasal Sprays on Social Behavior in Social Anxiety Disorder (NCT NCT01856530)

NCT ID: NCT01856530

Last Updated: 2018-02-13

Results Overview

The outcome measure involved difference scores in the number of balls tossed to Player 1 between two conditions of the task. Across both conditions, the participant (always assigned as "Player 2") played with 3 other on-line players in real time. In Condition 1, Player 1 was programmed to toss on average 70% of his balls to the participant. In Condition 2, Player 1's behavior switched such that he was programmed to toss on average only 10% of his balls to the participant. The data reported below is the number of balls tossed to Player 1 in Condition 2 minus balls tossed under Condition 1.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Target enrollment

60 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

Results posted on

2018-02-13

Participant Flow

Although 60 participants were enrolled in the study, 6 participants were found to be ineligible due to meeting criteria for substance dependence (n=2), a primary diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (n=1), and not meeting criteria for social anxiety disorder (n=3). Therefore, only 54 participants were assigned to groups.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Oxytocin
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Overall Study
STARTED
27
27
Overall Study
COMPLETED
27
27
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Effect of Oxytocin Nasal Sprays on Social Behavior in Social Anxiety Disorder

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Oxytocin
n=27 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=27 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Total
n=54 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
27 Participants
n=7 Participants
54 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
27 Participants
n=7 Participants
54 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
11 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
16 Participants
n=7 Participants
35 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
24 Participants
n=7 Participants
47 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
27 participants
n=5 Participants
27 participants
n=7 Participants
54 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

Population: Data from 2 participants could not be analyzed due to technical difficulties with the computer task. Thus, the number of participants analyzed was 52 in total, rather than 54.

The outcome measure involved difference scores in the number of balls tossed to Player 1 between two conditions of the task. Across both conditions, the participant (always assigned as "Player 2") played with 3 other on-line players in real time. In Condition 1, Player 1 was programmed to toss on average 70% of his balls to the participant. In Condition 2, Player 1's behavior switched such that he was programmed to toss on average only 10% of his balls to the participant. The data reported below is the number of balls tossed to Player 1 in Condition 2 minus balls tossed under Condition 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Oxytocin
n=26 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Social Cooperation
4.42 Ball tosses
Standard Deviation 6.706
4.69 Ball tosses
Standard Deviation 6.078

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

The outcome measure involved difference scores in response latencies on disengagement trials for disgust versus neutral cues. Difference scores were calculated as response latencies during disengagement trials for disgust cues minus response latencies during disengagement trials for neutral cues. Negative change scores represent an improvement in disengagement.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Oxytocin
n=27 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=27 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Disengagement From Social Threat Cues
1.34 Milliseconds
Standard Deviation 36.79
-2.69 Milliseconds
Standard Deviation 52.39

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

Population: Due to technical difficulties during the computer task, two participants did not complete this questionnaire and were not included in the analysis. Thus, only 52 participants were included in this analysis.

Participants will rate their perceived level of trust (on a 1-7 Likert scale) toward Player 1 during online ball-tossing task. Higher ratings on this scale reflect greater perceived trust toward Player 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Oxytocin
n=26 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Perceived Trust Scores on a 1-7 Likert Scale
4.65 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.47
4.73 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.12

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

Population: Due to technical difficulties during the computer task, two participants did not complete this questionnaire and were not included in the analysis. Thus, only 52 participants were included in this analysis.

Participants will rate their level of perceived empathy (on a 1-7 Likert scale) with Player 1 during online ball-tossing task. Higher scores on this scale reflect greater perceived empathy toward Player 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Oxytocin
n=26 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Perceived Empathy Scores on a 1-7 Likert Scale
4.46 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.39
4.27 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.46

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

Population: Due to technical difficulties during the computer task, two participants did not complete this questionnaire and were not included in the analysis. Thus, only 52 participants were included in this analysis.

Participants will rate their level of preference (on a 1-7 Likert scale) for Player 1 during online ball-tossing task. Higher scores on this scale reflect greater preference for Player 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Oxytocin
n=26 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Perceived Preference Scores on a 1-7 Likert Scale
5.04 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.40
5.04 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.18

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1 (first day oxytocin or placebo was administered)

Population: Due to technical difficulties during the computer task, two participants did not complete this questionnaire and were not included in this analysis. Thus, only 52 participants were included in this analysis.

Participants will rate their level of perceived rejection (on a 1-7 Likert scale) from Player 1 during online ball-tossing task. Higher scores on this scale reflect greater perceived rejection from Player 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Oxytocin
n=26 Participants
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=26 Participants
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Perceived Rejection Scores on a 1-7 Likert Scale
3.35 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.41
3.65 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.29

Adverse Events

Oxytocin

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 7 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 9 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Oxytocin
n=27 participants at risk
Liquid intranasal oxytocin, 24 IU, administered once Oxytocin: Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 24 IU, administered once
Placebo
n=27 participants at risk
Matched placebo nasal spray Placebo: Matched placebo nasal spray
Nervous system disorders
Jitteriness/restlessness
14.8%
4/27
18.5%
5/27
Nervous system disorders
Anxiety
11.1%
3/27
11.1%
3/27
Nervous system disorders
Dry mouth
7.4%
2/27
7.4%
2/27

Additional Information

Dr. Stefan G. Hofmann

Boston University

Phone: 617-353-9233

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place