Intranasal Oxytocin Trial Investigates Efficacy in Adults with Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder, affecting millions globally, characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming unusually large amounts of food, often accompanied by a distressing sense of lack of control. Unlike bulimia nervosa, BED episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviors. Current pharmacological treatments, such as certain antidepressants or lisdexamfetamine, have limited efficacy or significant side effects, leaving a substantial unmet need for effective and well-tolerated therapies. Oxytocin, a hypothalamic neuropeptide, plays a crucial role in social cognition, stress modulation, and importantly, in regulating feeding behavior, reward processing, and impulse control. Its ability to modulate neural circuits involved in these processes makes it a compelling candidate for investigating its therapeutic potential in BED, targeting the core behavioral and neurobiological dysregulations.

This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of intranasal oxytocin in adults diagnosed with binge-eating disorder or experiencing recurrent binge-eating episodes. Participants will receive either intranasal oxytocin or a matching placebo daily for a duration of 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the reduction in bingeing frequency, assessed using validated self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews. Secondary objectives include assessing changes in underlying mediators such as homeostatic appetite, reward sensitivity, and impulse control, which will be evaluated at 4 weeks and 8 weeks into the intervention using specific behavioral tasks and psychometric scales. The study also aims to rigorously evaluate the safety and tolerability profile of the 8-week intranasal oxytocin regimen.