The Effects of Social Support and Oxytocin Administration on Physiological Stress Reactivity in Essential Hypertension
Essential Hypertension
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Essential Hypertension focused on measuring Trier social stress test, Oxytocin, Hypertension
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- aged between 18 and 80 years
- sufficient knowledge of German language in reading and understanding
- medication-free
- non-smoking
- systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 < 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 < 110 mmHg for the hypertension group
- systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg for the normotensive control
- written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- any alcohol, caffeine, and theine consumption 24 hours before the experiment
- regular strenuous exercise
- alcohol and illicit drug abuse
- liver and renal diseases
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- allergies and atopic diathesis
- rheumatic diseases
- HIV
- cancer
- psychiatric and neurological diseases
- current infectious diseases
Sites / Locations
- Department of Psychology, University of Bern
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Arm 5
Arm 6
Arm 7
Arm 8
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Hypertensives with oxytocin and social support
Hypertensives with oxytocin without social support
Hypertensives without oxytocin with social support
Hypertensives without oxytocin or social support
Normotensives with oxytocin and social support
Normotensives with oxytocin without social support
Normotensives without oxytocin with social support
Normotensives without oxytocin or social support
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 normotensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.
80 hypertensive non-smoking medication-free men will be randomly assigned to receive intranasal OT (24 IU) or placebo 50 min before stress, and either social support (SS) from their best friend during the preparation period of the stress protocol or no social support.