Spray Away That Marital Stress, Researcher Suggests

Nasal spray of oxytocin, the 'love hormone,' can cut aggression

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

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TUESDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- A nasal spray containing a "love hormone" may actually help defuse marital squabbles, scientists reported Tuesday.

The hormone, oxytocin, which has been linked with the ability to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships and healthy psychological boundaries with other people, appears to cut stress during tense social situations or conflict, the researchers told a news conference.

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To determine that, the researchers used a nasal spray of oxytocin on couples who were put in a stressful situation. They found that levels of cortisol -- a hormone normally elevated in stressful situations -- could be significantly reduced in those given oxytocin.

The findings were presented Tuesday at the International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, in Pittsburgh.

"We were wondering which hormone or neural transmitter would mediate the positive effect of social bonding," said lead researcher Beate Ditzen, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, in Atlanta. "This led us to research on oxytocin."

In their study, Ditzen and colleagues from the University of Fribourg and the University of Zurich, both in Switzerland, had 50 couples engage in mock arguments about unresolved situations in their relationship.

Before the couples began arguing, half were given a nasal spray containing oxytocin, while the other couples were given a placebo. Using saliva samples, Ditzen's team monitored levels of the so-called stress hormone cortisol. The couples also completed questionnaires that evaluated the quality and social support of their relationships.

"Preliminary analysis indicates that there was no increase in cortisol increase in either group," Ditzen said. "But we had a significant cortisol decrease in the oxytocin group. This decrease was significantly different from the placebo group."

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