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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02302430

Intranasal Oxytocin and Enhancement of Team Cohesion

This study attempts to identify the psychological, behavioral, physiological, and hormonal predictors and mechanisms of an individual's ability to develop cohesion in a group working together as a team; and examine if administration of the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin enhances the development of team cohesion. Through a deeper understanding of the underlying psychobiological predictors and mechanisms of team cohesion, the prospective identification of individuals whose unique characteristics promote or inhibit the development of group cohesion will become possible.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year–28 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

San Francisco VA Medical Center

San Francisco, California, 94121, United States

About this study

The investigators will study up to one thousand subjects who will be randomized into same-gendered teams of three or volunteer as acquainted groups of three . Teams will be randomized to receive oxytocin or placebo. The investigators will first measure baseline personality traits including prosocial orientation. Cohesion will then be measured using a cooperative, virtual unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying mission. All online behavior will be recorded within the task and all offline, real world, behavior will be video recorded throughout the study by digital cameras for later behavioral coding. To measure biobehavioral synchrony, autonomic physiology will be recorded and saliva samples will be taken throughout behavioral testing.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-28
  • Speak English
  • Ability to use a nasal spray

Exclusion criteria

  • Positive urine pregnancy test
  • History of psychiatric or neurologic disorder
  • Use of illicit drugs in the past month
  • History of moderate-severe alcohol use disorder as defined by DSM-V criteria
  • Sensitivity to preservatives (in particular E 216, E 218 and chlorobutanol hemihydrate)
  • Nasal obstruction, discharge, or bleeding
  • Habitually drinks large volumes of water
  • Taking testosterone, estrogen/progesterone supplement, or serotonin-1a receptor agonists/antagonists
  • Currently meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-V) criteria for severe major depressive disorder with suicidal thoughts or actions

Treatment and study plan

Oxytocin

Drug

20 International Units Intranasal Oxytocin

Other names: Syntocinon

Placebo Comparator

Other

Saline nasal spray

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in score on computer game task

    Time frame: Baseline, 2 hours after drug/placebo administration

    Subjects will work together in groups of 2-4 performing a computer-based task flying a virtual plane.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change is psychophysiological output

    Time frame: Time based variability analyzed for 5 minute or 20 minute events

    Cardiac measures (HRV, Impedance) collected during computer based and group activities

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Collaborators

  • San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
  • United States Department of Defense

Registry information

Official study title

Psychobiological Assessment and Enhancement of Team Cohesion and Psychological Resilience Using a Virtual Team Cohesion Test.

Acronym: ECHO

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2019
First posted
Nov 27, 2014
Registry last updated
Aug 5, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.