The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 37 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Oxytocin and Pain: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Findings
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: A review of the literature was conducted to assess the association between oxytocin (OT) and pain. METHODS: PsychInfo, PubMed, and Medline (EBSCO) research databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles written between 1950 and 2012. Of a total of 1166 articles returned, 50 (9 human, 33 animal, and 8 spinal cord samples) met full inclusion criteria and were included in the review. RESULTS: OT had a reliable effect as defined by increasing pain tolerance in 29 of 33 animal studies reviewed. This effect persisted across central and peripheral modes of administration and type of noxious stimulus used (eg, heat, electric). The results suggest that OT acts as an analgesic for acute pain in animals. Preliminary research with humans offers consistent evidence to suggest that OT decreases pain sensitivity, though the reliability and stability of such effects cannot yet be determined. Although the findings are encouraging, there is a need for methodologically rigorous work in humans where OT is administered centrally. DISCUSSION: Further research seems to be warranted as the existence of biologically and psychologically plausible mechanisms linking OT and pain have been well supported using animal models with limited but encouraging human research. Implications and recommendations are discussed. Findings from this research may inform therapeutic methods for the management of pain.
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In the citing paper
“Mechanistically, the stronger reduction of AI activity to electric shocks under partner support after the administration of intranasal OXT may reflect anti-nociceptive effects of OXT that have been recently reported in human and animal studies (Rash, Aguirre-Camacho, & Campbell, 2014).”
From Oxytocin enhances the pain‐relieving effects of social support in romantic couples (2019) · cites this paper as Rash, Aguirre-Camacho, & Campbell, 2014
In the citing paper
“These results are interesting in light of work showing that oxytocin can not only act as an anxiolytic,51, 52 but can also act as a painkiller.53”
From Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women (2017) · cites this paper as [53]
In the citing paper
“Robust preclinical evidence has demonstrated that exogenous oxytocin has antinociceptive effects and has identified plausible underpinning mechanisms 6.”
From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [6]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, in accordance with previous findings (Rash et al, 2014), OXT attenuated both neural and psychophysiological responses to the aversive electric shock.”
From Oxytocin Facilitates Pavlovian Fear Learning in Males (2016) · cites this paper as Rash et al, 2014
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Metadata
- Authors
- Rash, J. A., Aguirre-Camacho, A., & Campbell, T. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Venue
- The Clinical Journal of Pain
- Published
- 2014-05
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 453-462
- ISSN
- 0749-8047 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2015140100
- Cited by
- 175
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 14
- FWCI
- 1.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, pain, analgesia, pain tolerance, acute pain, noxious stimuli, thermal pain, animal models, human subjects research, pain management, centralized management
- MeSH terms
- Analgesics, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Oxytocin, Pain, Spinal Cord, Databases, Factual
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