Oxytocin increases physiological linkage during group therapy for methamphetamine use disorder: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Patients and psychotherapists often exhibit behavioral, psychological, and physiological similarity. Here, we test whether oxytocin—a neuropeptide that can enhance expressivity and social perception—influences time-lagged “linkage” of autonomic nervous system responses among participants and facilitators during group therapy. Physiological linkage estimates (n = 949) were created from ten cohorts, each with two facilitators (n = 5) and four to six participants (n = 48), over six weekly sessions of group therapy for methamphetamine use disorder. All participants of a cohort received oxytocin or placebo intranasally in a randomized double-blind procedure before each session. Cardiac interbeat intervals (IBI) were measured continuously during sessions to estimate physiological linkage, operationalized as one cohort-mate’s IBI reactivity during one minute predicting another cohort-mate’s IBI reactivity during the following minute. In oxytocin cohorts, participants and facilitators experienced significant physiological linkage to their cohort-mates (i.e., their physiological responses were predicted by the prior responses of their cohort-mates) and significantly more linkage than people in placebo cohorts. Both effects occurred during the first and second sessions but not later sessions. Results suggest that oxytocin may enhance psychosocial processes often associated with linkage—such as social engagement—in groups and highlight oxytocin’s potential to improve group cohesion during group therapy.Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02881177, First published on 26/08/2016.

Oxytocin-augmented modular-based group intervention for loneliness: A proof-of-concept randomized-controlled trial

“…The OT-induced increase in positive bonding with the whole group is consistent with previous studies showing a significant OT effect on interpersonal trust [61,26,62], at least in participants with a low disposition to trust [27] like trait-like lonely individuals [29]. Mechanistically, OT may have influenced the biobehavioral synchrony between participants given previous findings that trait-like loneliness is associated with reduced social synchrony [63], and that OT can improve synchrony in group psychotherapies [64]. OT-based synchrony predicted treatment outcomes in a dyadic psychotherapy for depression [65], but an increase in OT levels during psychodynamic treatment sessions correlated with more instances of conflict and rupture in the alliance with the therapist [66].…”

Intranasal Oxytocin for Stimulant Use Disorder Among Male Veterans Enrolled in an Opioid Treatment Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Subsequently, Stauffer et al ( 19 ) found a significant effect of oxytocin on attendance at group therapy sessions for methamphetamine use disorder (OR 3.26, 95% CI [1.27–8.41], p = 0.014; n = 48, all male-identified). This trial also found positive effects of oxytocin on aspects of group cohesion ( 19 ) and physiological synchrony ( 21 ); although oxytocin had no significant effect on methamphetamine use or craving after 6 weeks of treatment. Of note, endogenous oxytocin has been nominated as a possible biomarker for therapeutic alliance ( 22 ); and—regardless of the therapeutic modality—the strength of the therapeutic alliance consistently predicts addiction treatment engagement and retention as well as long-term relapse ( 7 , 23 ).…”

The effects of intranasal oxytocin on black participants’ responses to outgroup acceptance and rejection

“…Next, participants self-administered a nasal spray containing 40 international units (IU) of oxytocin (syntocinon spray, Novartis) or placebo (containing all inactive ingredients except the neuropeptide) in the presence of the study MD (second author) or a trained project director (see Woolley et al, 2016 ; Petereit et al, 2019 ; Thorson et al, 2021 ; for a similar procedure). After the administration of the intranasal spray, we attached sensors for physiological measurement and participants’ physiological responses were recorded for 5 min while they sat quietly (see Cardiovascular Responses section for more details on physiological assessment).…”