• hormone
• MDD
• OCD
• oxytocin
• PTSD
• sex-related differences

Oxytocin has effects on the regulation of physiological processes and emotional states with increasing evidence for beneficial actions mediated by the autonomic and immune systems. Possibly acting via the autonomic nervous system, oxytocin seems to play a central role in supportive relationships and psychological safety. Both oxytocin and vasopressin are integral components of a system that affects the ability to cope with stress. However, the effects of oxytocin are context- and dose-dependent; sex-related differences in response to oxytocin were also highlighted in several studies. Furthermore, oxytocin is possibly involved in the pathophysiology of different psychiatric disorders, due to the pleiotropic properties of this hormone and the wide distribution of the oxytocin receptor in the central nervous system. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore plasma oxytocin levels in three samples of psychiatric patients focusing on sex-related differences. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the diagnosed psychiatric disorder: Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The possible relationships between oxytocin and clinical parameters and characteristics were examined as well.