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PLASMA OXYTOCIN IMMUNOREACTIVE PRODUCTS AND RESPONSE TO TRUST IN PATIENTS WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
Author(s) -
Hoge Elizabeth A.,
Lawson Elizabeth A.,
Metcalf Christina A.,
Keshaviah Aparna,
Zak Paul J.,
Pollack Mark H.,
Simon Naomi M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.21973
Subject(s) - social anxiety , oxytocin , prosocial behavior , psychology , anxiety , developmental psychology , psychiatry , neuroscience
Background G eneralized S ocial A nxiety D isorder ( GSAD ) is characterized by excessive fear and avoidance of several types of social and performance situations. The pathophysiology is not well understood, but research in animals and humans has provided evidence that oxytocin helps regulate normal social affiliative behavior. Previous work in healthy male subjects demonstrated a rise in plasma oxytocin after receiving a high trust signal. To examine the oxytocin system in GSAD , we measured plasma oxytocin in GSAD patients and controls, before and after the social “ T rust G ame,” a neuroeconomic test examining trust behavior and reaction to trust using real monetary incentives. Methods Thirty‐nine subjects with GSAD and 28 healthy controls provided three blood samples for oxytocin measurement before the T rust G ame, and one sample after the game. Plasma estradiol was also measured at baseline. The T rust G ame protocol version prioritized the sending of a signal of high cooperation and trust to all participants. All analyses controlled for gender and estradiol levels. Results Mean oxytocin levels post‐ T rust G ame ( P = .025), and overall (area under the curve, P = .011) were lower in GSAD patients compared to controls, after controlling for sex and estradiol. There was no significant change in oxytocin levels after the game in either group. Conclusions We report low plasma oxytocin levels in patients with GSAD during a prosocial laboratory task paradigm. Additional research will be important to further examine the relationship between oxytocin and social behavior in GSAD .