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, operat

SUBMITTER: Thorson KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8546069 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature