Nicotine DependencePhase 4NCT02595749
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Cigarette Smoking
A Phase 4 study testing Oxytocin in people with Nicotine Dependence and Tobacco Smoking, run by University of Southern California at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Socioemotional processing dysfunctions (i.e., disruptions in affective, cognitive, and neural processes that encode, interpret, and respond to socially and emotionally relevant stimuli) have been implicated in tobacco smoking and relapse, however this potential target for medication development has not been… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Nicotine Dependence, Tobacco Smoking
- What is being tested?
- Oxytocin
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 83 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Jul 2016to Jul 2019
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Ages 18-40
- Smoke >= 10 cig/day for the past year
- English fluency
Who cannot join
- Current DSM-5 substance use disorder, excluding nicotine dependence (to minimize alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms during the study sessions)
- Any medical condition that would increase risk for study participation (such as sinus infection or other condition blocking access to the olfactory epithelium)
- Women who are pregnant or nursing
- Current use of psychiatric medication
- Breath Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels < 10ppm measured during study intake (to exclude individuals who overreport smoking in order to participate in the study)
- Planning to quit or reduce smoking in the next 30 days
- Current regular use of other nicotine products
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
USC Health, Emotion and Addiction Laboratory
Los Angeles, California, 90032
About this study
Socioemotional processing dysfunctions (i.e., disruptions in affective, cognitive, and neural processes that encode, interpret, and respond to socially and emotionally relevant stimuli) have been implicated in tobacco smoking and relapse, however this potential target for medication development has not been systematically examined. Evidence from animal and human laboratories indicate that administration of intranasal oxytocin enhances socioemotional processing and may be efficacious for the treatment of drug addiction, including nicotine dependence. In order to evaluate the potential efficacy of intranasal oxytocin for smoking cessation, this laboratory-based proposal will examine whether intranasal oxytocin attenuates smoking lapse, nicotine withdrawal, and socioemotional processing disruptions in regular smokers following overnight abstinence.
- Conditions
- Nicotine Dependence, Tobacco Smoking
- Being tested
- Oxytocin, Placebo
- Medical subject headings
- Tobacco Use Disorder, Tobacco Smoking
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
OxytocinDrug
Also called Pitocin
PlaceboDrug
Also called Ocean Spray saline spray
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo then Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) | Experimental | Participants received a single placebo nasal spray (consisting of 4ml sterile saline [Ocean Nasal Spray Solution]) during the first experimental session, which occurred on a single day. After a 72 hour washout period, they then received a single 40 IU dose of Pitocin (oxytocin, USP; concentration = 10 IU/1 mL; PAR Pharmaceuticals, NY, USA) during the second experimental session, which occurred on a single day. All nasal spray solutions were transferred into two, 2 ml intranasal atomizers and administered in four sprays to each nostril over the course of 10 minutes. Receives: Drug: Oxytocin; Drug: Placebo |
| Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) then Placebo | Experimental | Participants received a single 40 IU dose of Pitocin (oxytocin, USP; concentration = 10 IU/1 mL; PAR Pharmaceuticals, NY, USA) during the first experimental session, which occurred on a single day. After a 72 hour washout period, they then received a single placebo nasal spray (consisting of 4ml sterile saline [Ocean Nasal Spray Solution]) during the second experimental session, which occurred on a single day. All nasal spray solutions were transferred into two, 2 ml intranasal atomizers and administered in four sprays to each nostril over the course of 10 minutes. Receives: Drug: Oxytocin; Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Smoking Lapse Analogue Task (Delay Score)
This task measures ability to resist the temptation to initiate smoking under conditions in which it is advantageous to remain abstinent. The "delay score" is the number of minutes before participants begin smoking (minimum = 0 minutes to maximum = 50 minutes). A higher number is better.
Measured: 2.5 hours after nasal spray administration
Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU)
The Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire measures desire, intention, urge, and need to smoke. The QSU was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Scores at each assessment time are calculated as the mean of all 10 items (minimum = 0 to maximum = 5). Each session's scores are then calculated as the mean scores of post-spray assessments. A lower score is better.
Measured: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Systolic blood pressure (SP) was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's values are calculated as the mean of post-spray assessments.
Measured: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Diastolic blood pressure (DP) was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's values are calculated as the mean of post-spray assessments.
Measured: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Heart Rate (Bpm)
Heart rate (HR) was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's values are calculated as the mean of post-spray assessments.
Measured: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Secondary outcomes (1)
Profile of Mood States (Anxious Scale)
The Profile of Mood States (POMS) lists 72 affective adjectives that are rated on 0 to 4-point. The main measure for this study is the Anxious scale, calculated as the mean of 6 anxiety-related items. The POMS was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's scores are calculated as the mean scores of post-spray assessments. Lower scores are better.
Measured: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2016
- Primary completionJul 2019
- Study completionJul 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Nicotine DependenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Southern CaliforniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 83 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Southern California
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Matthew Kirkpatrick, University of Southern California
- Investigators
- Matthew Kirkpatrick, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Southern California
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02595749
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HS-15-00657
- Status last verified
- Oct 2021
- First submitted
- 30 Oct 2015
- Last updated
- 15 Nov 2021
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Nov 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Cigarette Smoking
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02595749
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HS-15-00657
- Conditions
- Nicotine Dependence, Tobacco Smoking
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 83 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jul 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 15 Nov 2021
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Socioemotional processing dysfunctions (i.e., disruptions in affective, cognitive, and neural processes that encode, interpret, and respond to socially and emotionally relevant stimuli) have been implicated in tobacco smoking and relapse, however this potential target for medication development has not been systematically examined. Evidence from animal and human laboratories indicate that administration of intranasal oxytocin enhances socioemotional processing and may be efficacious for the treatment of drug addiction, including nicotine dependence. In order to evaluate the potential efficacy of intranasal oxytocin for smoking cessation, this laboratory-based proposal will examine whether intranasal oxytocin attenuates smoking lapse, nicotine withdrawal, and socioemotional processing disruptions in regular smokers following overnight abstinence.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo then Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) | Experimental | Drug: Oxytocin, Drug: PlaceboParticipants received a single placebo nasal spray (consisting of 4ml sterile saline [Ocean Nasal Spray Solution]) during the first experimental session, which occurred on a single day. After a 72 hour washout period, they then received a single 40 IU dose of Pitocin (oxytocin, USP; concentration = 10 IU/1 mL; PAR Pharmaceuticals, NY, USA) during the second experimental session, which occurred on a single day. All nasal spray solutions were transferred into two, 2 ml intranasal atomizers and administered in four sprays to each nostril over the course of 10 minutes. |
| Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) then Placebo | Experimental | Drug: Oxytocin, Drug: PlaceboParticipants received a single 40 IU dose of Pitocin (oxytocin, USP; concentration = 10 IU/1 mL; PAR Pharmaceuticals, NY, USA) during the first experimental session, which occurred on a single day. After a 72 hour washout period, they then received a single placebo nasal spray (consisting of 4ml sterile saline [Ocean Nasal Spray Solution]) during the second experimental session, which occurred on a single day. All nasal spray solutions were transferred into two, 2 ml intranasal atomizers and administered in four sprays to each nostril over the course of 10 minutes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Ages 18-40
- Smoke >= 10 cig/day for the past year
- English fluency
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Current DSM-5 substance use disorder, excluding nicotine dependence (to minimize alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms during the study sessions)
- Any medical condition that would increase risk for study participation (such as sinus infection or other condition blocking access to the olfactory epithelium)
- Women who are pregnant or nursing
- Current use of psychiatric medication
- Breath Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels < 10ppm measured during study intake (to exclude individuals who overreport smoking in order to participate in the study)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| OxytocinAlso: Pitocin | Drug | Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) then Placebo, Placebo then Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) |
| PlaceboAlso: Ocean Spray saline spray | Drug | Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) then Placebo, Placebo then Intranasal Oxytocin (40 IU) |
Primary outcome
Smoking Lapse Analogue Task (Delay Score)
Time frame: 2.5 hours after nasal spray administration
This task measures ability to resist the temptation to initiate smoking under conditions in which it is advantageous to remain abstinent. The "delay score" is the number of minutes before participants begin smoking (minimum = 0 minutes to maximum = 50 minutes). A higher number is better.
Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU)
Time frame: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
The Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire measures desire, intention, urge, and need to smoke. The QSU was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Scores at each assessment time are calculated as the mean of all 10 items (minimum = 0 to maximum = 5). Each session's scores are then calculated as the mean scores of post-spray assessments. A lower score is better.
Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Time frame: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Systolic blood pressure (SP) was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's values are calculated as the mean of post-spray assessments.
Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Time frame: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Diastolic blood pressure (DP) was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's values are calculated as the mean of post-spray assessments.
Heart Rate (Bpm)
Time frame: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Heart rate (HR) was assessed 30 minutes before the nasal spray, and again 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the nasal spray during each session. Each session's values are calculated as the mean of post-spray assessments.
1 secondary outcome
Profile of Mood States (Anxious Scale)
Time frame: 30 minutes before nasal spray, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after nasal spray
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Nov 2021.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Matthew Kirkpatrick, PhD principal investigator
University of Southern California
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Oxytocin in people with Nicotine Dependence and Tobacco Smoking, run by University of Southern California at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Nov 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 15 Nov 2021). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Smoking Lapse Analogue Task (Delay Score) (time frame: 2.5 hours after nasal spray administration). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Nov 2021; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.