The Effect of Oxytocin on Fear Memory Consolidation Novel Intervention to Prevent Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The purpose of the study is to learn how differences in learning under mildly-stressful circumstances may be changed by taking oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone made naturally in the body. The investigators will also examine the impact of any anxiety, depression, and stress related symptoms on learning processes.

• Drug: Oxytocin
  Liquid metered-dose nasal spray, 30 IUs, administered once.
  Other Name: Syntocinon
• Drug: Placebo
  Matched nasal spray placebo

• Placebo Comparator: Placebo
  Matched nasal spray placebo.
  Intervention: Drug: Placebo
• Experimental: Oxytocin
  Liquid intranasal oxytocin administered in a nasal spray.
  Intervention: Drug: Oxytocin

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men or women 18 to 65 years of age
• Score in study range on the NEO-FFI
• No current Axis I DSM-IV excluded diagnoses as determined by the SCID completed within the past 4 months.
• Must be able and willing to understand study procedures and return to the clinic on two separate consecutive days for the fear-conditioning procedures.
• Subjects must be able to give informed consent and be willing and able to comply with study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of a current DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis as measured by the SCID.
• A serious medical condition or other condition deemed likely to result in surgery or hospitalization, or which would make participation in the study difficult.
• Patients with a history of trauma resulting in head injury related seizures or with epilepsy (except a prior history of febrile seizures of infancy which are not exclusionary).
• Use of supplemental hormones (birth control, estrogen, testosterone, prednisone, etc) or narcotics.
• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Women of childbearing potential not using medically accepted forms of contraception.
• Current use of the excluded psychiatric medications.
• Known hypersensitivity to oxytocin
• Known hyponatremia.