Opioid receptor blockade inhibits self-disclosure during a closeness-building social interaction

Abstract

Social ties are critical to human health and well-being; thus, it is important to gain a better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the development of interpersonal closeness. Prior research indicates that endogenous opioids may play a role in social affiliation by elaborating feelings of social connection and warmth; however, it is not currently known whether opioids mediate affiliative behavior and emerging feelings of closeness in humans at the relationship initiation stage. This randomized, double-blind study examined opioidergic processes in the context of a naturalistic, face-to-face social interaction. Eighty pairs of unacquainted participants (final N = 159 due to removal of one dyad member from analysis) received either 50 mg of the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone or placebo prior to completing a closeness-building exercise centered on escalating self-disclosure (sharing of personal information about the self). Compared to the placebo group, naltrexone participants held lower social reward expectations prior to the interaction, engaged in less intimacy-fostering behavior (self-disclosure) during the interaction, and reported wanting less closeness with their partner. Feelings of social connection were not significantly lower in the naltrexone group. However, placebo participants experienced improvements in mood after the closeness-building task whereas naltrexone participants did not. These findings suggest that endogenous opioids may contribute to behavioral, affective, and motivational processes related to the development of initial closeness.

Keywords: Close relationships; Intimacy; Naltrexone; Opioid; Self-Disclosure.