Effect of oxytocin on craving and stress response in marijuana-dependent individuals: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Stress has been shown to be a significant factor in the maintenance of marijuana use. Oxytocin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that has been shown to moderate behavioral responding to stress as well as play a role in the neuroadaptations that occur as a consequence of long-term drug use.

Objectives

The current study evaluated the impact of oxytocin pretreatment on craving, stress, and anxiety responses following a psychosocial stress task in marijuana-dependent individuals.

Methods

In a laboratory setting, baseline measurements of craving (assessed using the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire; MCQ), salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), stress, and anxiety were collected in 16 participants (age 19-40) meeting DSM-IV criteria for marijuana dependen

SUBMITTER: McRae-Clark AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3729589 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature