title: Effects of intranasal vasopressin and oxytocin on physiologic responding during personal combat imagery in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: This study measured heart rate, skin conductance, and lateral frontalis electromyographic (EMG) responses in 43 male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder during personal combat imagery. In a double-blind research design, subjects were randomly assigned to receive intranasal arginine vasopressin (20 IU), placebo, or oxytocin (20 IU) an hour before the experiment. The group order of physiologic responding was as predicted: vasopressin > placebo > oxytocin. The most specific effect was exerted by vasopressin on EMG responses. This drug effect was not accounted for by nonspecific changes in responsiveness. Results are consistent with enhancing and inhibiting effects on memory retrieval and conditioned responding of vasopressin and oxytocin, respectively.
authors.affiliation: VA Medical Center, Manchester, NH.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pitman
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Lasko
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010121:Oxytocin
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin