Study of Intranasal Oxytocin Effects on Emotion Recognition and Stress Response in Adults with Central Diabetes Insipidus and Healthy Volunteers

What this Trial Is About

The trial investigates the effects of intranasal oxytocin compared to placebo on emotion recognition and acute psychosocial stress in patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency central diabetes insipidus compared to healthy controls. This condition involves a deficiency in a neuropeptide that affects water balance and is treated with desmopressin, but patients often experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety, impaired emotion recognition, and increased stress. Oxytocin, a related neuropeptide, may influence social-emotional functions and reduce stress, and this study explores whether oxytocin treatment can improve these psychological symptoms. Participants will self-administer a single dose of 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo under supervision in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design. The study is divided into two parts Part A assessing recognition of facial and body emotions with a two-week washout between visits, and Part B measuring cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress with an eight-week washout. The order of receiving oxytocin or placebo varies among four group assignments. Throughout the study, participants undergo tests measuring facial emotion and body expression recognition, cortisol response to stress, empathy, subjective emotional responses, heart rate, and blood pressure. The study lasts up to 10 weeks for stress response assessments and up to 4 weeks for emotion recognition. The research team monitors participants closely to evaluate the impact of oxytocin versus placebo on psychological and physiological responses.

Effect of Intranasal Oxytocin on Emotion Recognition and Acute Psycho-Social Stress-induced Cortisol Increase in Patients With Central Diabetes Insipidus and Healthy Controls