Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and oxytocin: A meta-analytic investigation of endogenous concentrations and receptor genotype

Sinha Engel; Hannah Klusmann; Sebastian Laufer; Ann-Christin Pfeifer; Beate Ditzen; Mirjam van Zuiden; Christine Knaevelsrud; Sarah Schumacher

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.003

Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and oxytocin: A meta-analytic investigation of endogenous concentrations and receptor genotype

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Dec:107:560-601. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Aug 11.

Authors

Sinha Engel¹, Hannah Klusmann², Sebastian Laufer³, Ann-Christin Pfeifer⁴, Beate Ditzen⁵, Mirjam van Zuiden⁶, Christine Knaevelsrud⁷, Sarah Schumacher⁸

Affiliations

¹ Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstraße 27, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: s.engel@fu-berlin.de.
² Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstraße 27, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: h.klusmann@fu-berlin.de.
³ Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstraße 27, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: sebastian.laufer@fu-berlin.de.
⁴ Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Bergheimer Straße 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Paraplegiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Schlierbacher Landstraße 200a, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: ann-christin.pfeifer@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
⁵ Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Bergheimer Straße 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: beate.ditzen@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.vanzuiden@amc.nl.
⁷ Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstraße 27, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: christine.knaevelsrud@fu-berlin.de.
⁸ Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Schwendenerstraße 27, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: sarah.schumacher@fu-berlin.de.

PMID: 31412270
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.003

Abstract

Oxytocin's stress-reducing and social functions suggest an involvement in trauma processing and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We searched PubMed, PubPsych, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Web of Science, ProQuest and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies assessing endogenous oxytocin, oxytocin receptor genotype or methylation in traumatized humans. Eligible studies (k = 66) were systematically described. We meta-analytically compared oxytocin parameters between traumatized and non-traumatized individuals (k = 17) and individuals with and without PTSD (k = 8), and correlated oxytocin with trauma exposure (k = 16) and PTSD symptoms (k = 8). Endogenous oxytocin concentrations did not differ between PTSD patients and healthy individuals. The remaining effects on endogenous oxytocin were heterogeneous. Subgroup analyses identified sampling-related, trauma-related and demographic moderators, resulting in inconsistent or non-significant effects. Methylation data were insufficient for meta-analyses, and meta-analytic genotype results were inconsistent. Unstimulated endogenous oxytocin was not a biomarker for trauma exposure or PTSD. Given the impact of methodology, more basic research on endogenous oxytocin measurements is needed. Future studies might consider the oxytocin stress response and investigate oxytocin longitudinally.

Keywords: Abuse; Adversity; Maltreatment; OXTR; Oxytocin receptor gene; Systematic review; Trauma; Traumatic experience.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Genotype
Humans
Oxytocin / physiology*
Receptors, Oxytocin / genetics*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology*
Stress, Psychological / complications*

Substances

Receptors, Oxytocin
Oxytocin