OXYTOCIN-AUGMENTED MODULAR-BASED GROUP INTERVENTION FOR LONELINESS: A RANDOMIZED-CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract Background Chronic loneliness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of loneliness as a modifiable risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). As a result, there is an urgent need for neurobiologically informed interventions to reduce loneliness (1). Aims & Objectives Given preliminary evidence for impaired oxytocin signaling in chronic loneliness (2), the current proof- of-concept study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to probe intranasal oxytocin (IN-OT) as an adjunct to a short-term modular-based group intervention for individuals suffering from high chronic loneliness (HL) (Fig. 1). Method Seventy-eight healthy HL participants (56 women) received five weekly group psychotherapy sessions targeting negative cognitive biases in loneliness. After a first orientation session, HL participants received IN-OT or placebo before therapy. Trait loneliness was measured at baseline and a week and three months after the intervention. Perceived stress, quality of live, and the therapeutic relationship were assessed at each session, while state loneliness was tested before and after each session. As an additional no-intervention control group, 49 healthy participants reporting low loneliness (26 women) were also tested twice. Results The intervention significantly reduced perceived stress and improved trait loneliness, which was still evident at the 3-month follow-up. IN-OT had no significant effect on these primary outcomes or quality of life. However, compared to placebo, IN-OT significantly facilitated the decrease in state loneliness within sessions and significantly enhanced positive aspects of the therapeutic relationship, in the form of improved positive bonding of the therapist with the whole group. Discussion & Conclusion Conclusively, the short-term group intervention improved trait loneliness, but IN-OT did not significantly augment this effect. Further studies are needed to determine optimal intervention designs to translate the observed acute effects of IN-OT into long-term benefits. References 1.Morr M, Liu X, Hurlemann R, Becker B, Scheele D. Chronic Loneliness: Neurocognitive Mechanisms and Interventions. Psychother Psychosom. 2022;91(4):227-237. 2.Patin A, Scheele D, Hurlemann R. Oxytocin and Interpersonal Relationships. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2018;35:389-420.