Can Oxytocin Spray Treat Depression?
The possible health benefits and medical uses of oxytocin seems unending. A study this month has claimed that the hormone spray could even be used to treat those suffering from depression.
According to Dr. Ziad Nahas, a researcher at the Medical School of South Carolina, when depressed subjects inhaled the hormone, their brain activity began to more closely resemble that of healthy subjects.
Oxytocin has been linked to social bonding and attachment, said Nahas, and acts as a stress reliever. Since depressed individuals feel anxious and socially disconnected, oxytocin might help them feel less depressed.
Psychologists have long known that social functioning and having a solid social support network plays a key role in physical and mental health. The widespread use of Oxytocin has been trumpeted by some visionaries, such as the philosopher David Pearce, as a way of promoting both social and personal happiness. Another study seems to have confirmed that oxytocin could become a revolutionary product that could transform society.
Source : http://depression.about.com/b/2010/10/29/hormone-shows-potential-as-antidepressant.htm
