Relation between serum oxytocin levels and impulsivity in patients under treatment for alcohol use disorder

OBJECTIVE: Due to shared oxytocin pathways in impulsivity and alcohol use disorder (AUD), impulsivity is thought to increase susceptibility to AUD through the oxytocin system. This study investigated this relationship in patients under treatment for alcohol use disorder. METHOD: The study included 32 AUD patients and 34 healthy controls. First day of alcohol withdrawal, patients were assessed with the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). On day 14, all these assessments were repeated along with the Michigan alcoholism screening test (MAST) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11) then blood samples were taken to measure oxytocin levels. Only the HAM-D and BIS-11 scales were used in the control group, and blood samples were collected for oxytocin measurement. RESULTS: The patient group had significantly lower oxytocin levels. The BIS-11 scores, including all subscales, were significantly higher in the patient group. A significant negative correlation was found between oxytocin levels and both the total BIS-11 score and the motor impulsivity subscale score in the patient group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that impulsivity may increase susceptibility to AUD through the oxytocin system. To better understand this relationship further research is needed. KEY POINTS: Serum oxytocin levels in the patient group were statistically significantly lower.All of the BIS-11 subscale scores and total BIS-11 score were statistically significantly higher in the patient group.A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the serum oxytocin levels, and the total BIS-11 score and motor impulsivity subscale score in the patient group.The results of this study are valuable in elucidating the role of impulsivity and oxytocin in AUD.