Peripheral Oxytocin and Touch

NCT05326776 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2024-12-31

Study results available
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Summary

Research shows that slow gentle skin stroking can activate special sensory nerves in the skin that elicit relaxing effects on the body and mind, similar to the effects of the hormone oxytocin. Studies also suggest that gentle stroking may even release oxytocin in the skin. However, we do not know what oxytocin does in the skin and how it affects nerves that send pleasant touch or pain signals to the brain. The proposed study will determine how individuals perceive gentle stroking and experimental pain before and after a skin injection of oxytocin compared to a placebo injection.

Conditions

  • Healthy Adults

Interventions

DRUG

Pitocin

At each session, 4mcg/2ml oxytocin or 2ml isotonic saline (0.9% sodium chloride; placebo control) will be injected into the middle of the dorsal forearm. Sessions will be separated by at least 48 hours to ensure drug clearance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-04-05
Primary Completion
2023-08-03
Completion
2023-08-03
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05326776 on ClinicalTrials.gov