Altered association of plasmatic oxytocin with affective stress response in alcohol use disorder.

ABSTRACT: Oxytocin has been proposed to play a role in the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD) through its interactions with stress pathways. Empirical evidence that indicates altered associations between endogenous oxytocin and stress reactivity in AUD is currently lacking. In this study, we investigated baseline plasmatic oxytocin concentrations of early-abstinent patients with AUD (N = 40) and matched healthy control participants (N = 37), who completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as well as a control task on two separate visits. We measured salivary cortisol and pulse rate as indicators of a physiological stress response, and anxiety ratings as an indicator of an affective stress response at multiple time points. Baseline oxytocin levels did not significantly differ

SUBMITTER: Mayer AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12537864 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature