Oxytocin Administration in BDD and OCD
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional other trial for Body Dysmorphic Disorder focused on measuring Oxytocin, Body dysmorphic disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Treatment-seeking adult males and females ≥ 18 years of age
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for principal BDD (for BDD group) or principal OCD (for OCD group), as determined by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) diagnostic interview
- For females only: must be taking low-dose oral contraceptive pills, as defined by monophasic pills containing <50 mcg ethinyl estradiol
- For healthy volunteers only: does not meet current DSM-IV diagnosis of any Axis I disorder
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants in the BDD group will be excluded if they have a comorbid diagnosis of OCD and participants in the OCD group will be excluded if they have a comorbid diagnosis of BDD.
- Current diagnosis of schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse or substance dependence. All other Axis I comorbidities will be permitted to foster the accrual of a clinically relevant sample.
- Significant nasal pathology (e.g., atrophic rhinitis, history of hypophysectomy, recurrent nosebleeds)
- Smokers who smoke ≥ 15 cigarettes daily
- Serious medical illnesses
- Active homicidal or suicidal ideation
- Concurrent use of psychotropic medications
- Steroid or hormone use (except low-dose oral contraceptive pills for females, which is allowed)
- For females only: positive urine pregnancy test and use of high dose estrogen/progestin pills (low dose estrogen/progestin oral contraceptives will be allowed due to stability of hormone levels during active phase)
- For healthy volunteers only: any current DSM-IV Axis I disorder
Sites / Locations
- Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Oxytocin, Then Placebo
Placebo, Then Oxytocin
Participants will first receive a nasal spray containing the hormone oxytocin (24 IU, 3 puffs per nostril). After a one-week washout period, participants will come back to the clinic and receive a placebo nasal spray (containing all of the same ingredients as the oxytocin spray minus the active oxytocin ingredient).
Participants will first receive a placebo nasal spray containing a matching formulation as the oxytocin spray (without the active oxytocin ingredient). After a one-week washout period, participants will come back to the clinic and receive an oxytocin nasal spray (24 IU, 3 puffs per nostril).