Abstract
BackgroundSubstance use disorders (SUDs) have been described as a dysfunctional way to compensate for deficiencies in that person’s underlying attachment system. Furthermore, the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), which is a critical component of the neurobiology of the attachment system, has been shown to effectively reduce addictive behavior and therefore has been discussed as a potential medication in SUD treatment. This study investigates variation in peripheral OT plasma levels as a function of exposure to an attachment-related stimulus in SUD patients compared to healthy controls (HCs).MethodsA total sample of 48 men, 24 inpatients in maintenance treatment who were diagnosed with poly-drug use disorder (PUD) and 24 HC, was investigated. A 15-min exposure to the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) was used as an attachment-related stimulus and coded for attachment status. Blood samples before and after the AAP-assessment were taken and assayed for OT levels. Variation in baselines level of OT was examined in relation to the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), the Adult Attachment-Scale (AAS), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI).ResultsFollowing the AAP stimulus controls showed no significant difference in OT levels elevation from baseline compared to the PUD group’s OT levels. Furthermore, in the PUD group only OT-baseline-levels may be negatively associated with the AAS subscale “Comfort with Closeness” and “Anxiety” and lifetime substance use.DiscussionOur results suggest that peripheral OT levels in poly-drug users undergoing maintenance treatment are not significantly different in responsiveness to an attachment related stimulus compared to HC. With regard to non-significant tendencies observed in this study which hint toward decreased OT-reactivity in the PUD group, further research is needed to explore this hypothesis with increased statistical power.
Highlights
Substance use disorders (SUDs) have been characterized as a compulsive substance use without consideration of the negative consequences [1] and are increasingly framed as a neurobiological disorder [2, 3]
The between group tests for differences in the measures of mental health and attachment the poly-drug use disorder (PUD) group showed a tendency toward less Comfort with closeness (F(1, 46) = 3.97; p = 0.05) and Comfort with Depending on others (F(1, 46) = 3.61; p = 0.06) and higher depressive symptom burden (F(1, 46) = 8.27; p < 0.05)
In order to enhance the understanding of the relationship of OT to SUD, we investigated the differences in psychopathology, attachment, and the OT-system between PUD patients undergoing maintenance treatment compared to healthy controls (HCs), as well as differences in peripheral OT response to an attachment-related stimulus
Summary
Substance use disorders (SUDs) have been characterized as a compulsive substance use without consideration of the negative consequences [1] and are increasingly framed as a neurobiological disorder [2, 3]. Recent studies indicate a substantial role of insecure attachment in the etiology of SUDs [14,15,16]—among other psychiatric disorders [17]. This relationship has been linked to the influence of attachment styles on the interpersonal regulation of human emotions fear, anxiety and hedonic experiences within close relationships [18, 19]. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), which is a critical component of the neurobiology of the attachment system, has been shown to effectively reduce addictive behavior and has been discussed as a potential medication in SUD treatment. This study investigates variation in peripheral OT plasma levels as a function of exposure to an attachment-related stimulus in SUD patients compared to healthy controls (HCs)
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