Effectiveness of Oxytocin on Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Depression Syndrome in a Patient with Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

Stopping or controlling alcohol consumption in alcohol-related cancers can increase survival rates. Oxytocin due to its potential in craving modulation has been suggested as an alternative therapy.

The patient was alcohol-abused 67-year-old male with a diagnosis of metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and dysthymia syndrome, which was selected using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method. The patient was treated with intranasal oxytocin in two stages and for 6 weeks, and in the control phase, placebo was used. Alcohol consumption rate, its related problems, and changes in the depression index were considered as the primary outcome. The association of mood with alcohol consumption was considered as the secondary outcome. The data were analyzed, using the generalized estimation equation (GEE), a generalized linear mixed models (random effect model) with repeated measures, and repeated measures correlation. Primary outcomes showed that intranasal oxytocin caused a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and its problems related to mood. However, this reduction did not remain until the follow-up stage. Secondary outcomes showed that there is a direct relationship between the dysthymia index and alcohol consumption.

The reduction of neurotic cue reactivity induced by the oxytocin function can, with the improvement of the mood, stop the cycle of craving and consumption. However, this hypothesis requires controlled clinical trials.