Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Existing pharmacotherapies for managing craving, a strong predictor of relapse to automated addictive behaviours, are limited in efficacy and characterised by increased health risks associated with their pharmacological profile. Preclinical studies have identified oxytocin as a promising pharmacotherapy with anticraving properties for addictive behaviours. Here, we provide the first systematic review of 17 human studies (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 722; 30% female) investigating the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin to reduce craving or consumption in addictive behaviours. We identify intranasal oxytocin as a method that warrants further investigation regarding its capacity to decrease cue‐induced, acute stress‐induced or withdrawal‐related craving and relapse related to alcohol, cannabis, opioids, cocaine or nicotine, including a potential role as <jats:italic>ad hoc</jats:italic> medication following exposure to drug‐related cues. Future studies should investigate the role of factors such as treatment regimens and sample characteristics, including the role of the amygdala, which we propose as a distinct mechanism mediating oxytocin's anticraving properties.</jats:p>