title: The Impact of Oxytocin on Food Intake and Emotion Recognition in Patients with Eating Disorders: A Double Blind Single Dose Within-Subject Cross-Over Design.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social difficulties and problems related to eating behaviour are common features of both anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). The aim of this study was to examine the impact of intranasal oxytocin on consummatory behaviour and emotional recognition in patients with AN and BN in comparison to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 102 women, including 35 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), 34 patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 33 healthy university students of comparable age and intelligence, participated in a double-blind, single dose placebo-controlled cross-over study. A single dose of intranasal administration of oxytocin (40 IU) (or a placebo) was followed by an emotional recognition task and an apple juice drink. Food intake was then recorded for 24 hours post-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxytocin produced no significant change in appetite in the acute or 24 hours free living settings in healthy controls, whereas there was a decrease in calorie consumption over 24 hours in patients with BN. Oxytocin produced a small increase in emotion recognition sensitivity in healthy controls and in patients with BN, In patients with AN, oxytocin had no effect on emotion recognition sensitivity or on consummatory behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of oxytocin on appetite and social cognition varied between people with AN and BN. A single dose of intranasal oxytocin decreased caloric intake over 24 hours in people with BN. People with BN showed enhanced emotional sensitivity under oxytocin condition similar to healthy controls. Those effects of oxytocin were not found in patients with AN.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov KCT00000716.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Eating Disorders and Mental Health, Inje University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Youl-Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Eating Disorders and Mental Health, Inje University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Section of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin