title: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate enhances mood and prosocial behavior without affecting plasma oxytocin and testosterone.
abstract: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a GHB-/GABAB-receptor agonist. Reports from GHB abusers indicate euphoric, prosocial, and empathogenic effects of the drug. We measured the effects of GHB on mood, prosocial behavior, social and non-social cognition and assessed potential underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms. GHB (20mg/kg) was tested in 16 healthy males, using a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Subjective effects on mood were assessed by visual-analogue-scales and the GHB-Specific-Questionnaire. Prosocial behavior was examined by the Charity Donation Task, the Social Value Orientation test, and the Reciprocity Task. Reaction time, memory, empathy, and theory-of-mind were also tested. Blood plasma levels of GHB, oxytocin, testosterone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenocorticotropic-hormone (ACTH) were determined. GHB showed stimulating and sedating effects, and elicited euphoria, disinhibition, and enhanced vitality. In participants with low prosociality, the drug increased donations and prosocial money distributions. In contrast, social cognitive abilities such as emotion recognition, empathy, and theory-of-mind, and basal cognitive functions were not affected. GHB increased plasma progesterone, while oxytocin and testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, DHEA, and ACTH levels remained unaffected. GHB has mood-enhancing and prosocial effects without affecting social hormones such as oxytocin and testosterone. These data suggest a potential involvement of GHB-/GABAB-receptors and progesterone in mood and prosocial behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: oliver.bosch@bli.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Oliver G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eisenegger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gertsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Rotz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dornbierer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M Salomé
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gachet
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 8, 79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heinrichs
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wetter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seifritz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Boris B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Quednow
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012919:Social Behavior; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D010121:Oxytocin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Altruism; Club drug; Fairness; Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; Rape drug; Sodium oxybate