title: Effects of adverse childhood experiences on the association between intranasal oxytocin and social stress reactivity among individuals with cocaine dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug dependence and adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are commonly reflected by dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). Accumulating research indicates that the neuropeptide oxytocin may regulate HPA function, resulting in reductions in neuroendocrine reactivity to social stress among individuals with drug dependence. However, emerging literature suggests that individual differences may differentially impact intranasal oxytocin's effects on human social behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study employed a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to examine the extent to which ACE influenced the effects of intranasal oxytocin (40IU) on neuroendocrine reactivity to a laboratory social stress paradigm in a sample of 31 cocaine-dependent individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACE scores modified the relationship between intranasal oxytocin and cortisol reactivity. While ACE modified the relationship between intranasal oxytocin and DHEA response in a similar direction to what was seen in cortisol, it did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings are congruent with the emerging hypothesis that intranasal oxytocin may differentially attenuate social stress reactivity among individuals with specific vulnerabilities. Future research examining the nuances of intranasal oxytocin's therapeutic potential is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 5 Charleston Center Drive, Suite 151, Charleston, SC 29401, USA. Electronic address: hellmuth@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Julianne C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon Street, Suite 303, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 5 Charleston Center Drive, Suite 151, Charleston, SC 29401, USA.
authors.forename: Aimee L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McRae-Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 5 Charleston Center Drive, Suite 151, Charleston, SC 29401, USA; Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 109 Bee St., Charleston, SC 29401, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 5 Charleston Center Drive, Suite 151, Charleston, SC 29401, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moran-Santa Maria
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Drug dependence; HPA; Oxytocin; Social stress reactivity