Intranasal oxytocin attenuates attentional bias for eating and fat shape stimuli in patients with anorexia nervosa.
We examined the impact of oxytocin on attentional processes for eating, shape, and weight stimuli in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). A double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subject crossover design was used. Intranasal oxytocin or placebo followed by a visual probe detection task with food, weight, and shape images was administered to 64 female subjects: 31 patients with AN and 33 control students. The AN group showed significant reductions in the attentional biases toward eating-related stimuli (p=0.030, d=0.516) and toward negative shape stimuli (p=0.015, d=0.498) under the influence of intranasal oxytocin. The effect of oxytocin was correlated with autistic spectrum traits in the AN group. Oxytocin had no effect on the amount of juice consumed in either group. The results of this study suggest that oxytocin attenuates the attentional vigilance to eating and fat shape stimuli in patients with AN. Further studies using oxytocin as a form of intervention for patients with AN are needed.
Eating Disorders Clinic, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: youlri.kim@paik.ac.kr.
Youl-Ri
YR
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Severance Mental Health Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gyeonggi Do, South Korea.
Chan-Hyung
CH
Kim
Section of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
Valentina
V
Cardi
Department of Psychology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
Jin-Sup
JS
Eom
Eating Disorders Clinic, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yoori
Y
Seong
Section of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
Janet
J
Treasure
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001828:Body Image; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult
D010121:Oxytocin
Anorexia nervosa; Attention bias; Dot probe task; Oxytocin