Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict

Ditzen, Beate; Schaer, Marcel; Gabriel, Barbara; Bodenmann, Guy; Ehlert, Ulrike; Heinrichs, Markus

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.10.011

« Previous Next »Biological Psychiatry
Volume 65, Issue 9 , Pages 728-731, 1 May 2009

Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict

Beate Ditzen
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
- Address reprint requests to Beate Ditzen, Ph.D., University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Binzmuhlestr. 14/Box 26, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Marcel Schaer
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Family Research and Counseling, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
Barbara Gabriel
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Family Research and Counseling, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
Guy Bodenmann
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Family Research and Counseling, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
Ulrike Ehlert
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Markus Heinrichs
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Received 13 June 2008; received in revised form 8 October 2008; accepted 8 October 2008. published online 25 November 2008.

Background

In nonhuman mammals, the neuropeptide oxytocin has repeatedly been shown to increase social approach behavior and pair bonding. In particular, central nervous oxytocin reduces behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and is suggested to mediate the rewarding aspects of attachment in highly social species. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the effects of central oxytocin mechanisms on behavior and physiology in human couple interaction.

Methods

In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 47 heterosexual couples (total n = 94) received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before a standard instructed couple conflict discussion in the laboratory. The conflict session was videotaped and coded for verbal and nonverbal interaction behavior (e.g., eye contact, nonverbal positive behavior, and self-disclosure). Salivary cortisol was repeatedly measured during the experiment.

Results

Oxytocin significantly increased positive communication behavior in relation to negative behavior during the couple conflict discussion (F = 4.18, p = .047) and significantly reduced salivary cortisol levels after the conflict compared with placebo (F = 7.14, p = .011).

Conclusions

These results are in line with animal studies indicating that central oxytocin facilitates approach and pair bonding behavior. Our findings imply an involvement of oxytocin in couple interaction and close relationships in humans.

Key Words: Couple conflict, intranasal oxytocin, salivary cortisol, social interaction, stress