The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are not well-understood. Oxytocin is a central nervous system peptide which regulates socioemotional functioning and may mediate physiologic processes in a range of psychiatric disorders, particularly those characterized by interpersonal dysfunction. Examining the role of oxytocin in the development and maintenance of BDD may elucidate new targets for intervention. The present study examined endogenous serum oxytocin levels in BDD. Given the prominent deficits in social functioning in BDD, we expected that BDD would be characterized by low basal serum oxytocin concentrations, relative to healthy controls, and that low oxytocin levels would be associated with BDD symptom severity as well as poor performance on measures of social cognition. Twenty individuals with BDD and 28 healthy controls completed a fasting blood draw consisting of frequent sampling every five minutes for one hour to measure pooled levels of oxytocin. Contrary to our hypotheses, people with BDD displayed higher concentrations of oxytocin, compared to their healthy control counterparts, and their oxytocin levels were positively correlated with BDD symptom severity. There were no associations between oxytocin levels and measures of social cognition. These findings suggest increased production of endogenous oxytocin in BDD. Prospective research is needed to determine whether this contributes to or is a consequence of BDD symptomatology.

中文翻译：

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血清催产素水平在身体变形障碍中升高并与精神病理学的严重程度有关

身体变形障碍 (BDD) 病理生理学背后的神经生物学机制尚不清楚。催产素是一种中枢神经系统肽，可调节社会情绪功能并可能介导一系列精神疾病的生理过程，尤其是那些以人际功能障碍为特征的疾病。检查催产素在 BDD 发展和维持中的作用可能会阐明新的干预目标。本研究检查了 BDD 中的内源性血清催产素水平。鉴于 BDD 社会功能的显着缺陷，我们预计 BDD 的特点是相对于健康对照，基础血清催产素浓度低，并且低催产素水平将与 BDD 症状严重程度以及在社交方面的表现不佳有关。认识。20 名患有 BDD 的人和 28 名健康对照者完成了空腹抽血，包括每五分钟频繁采样一小时，以测量汇总的催产素水平。与我们的假设相反，与健康对照组相比，BDD 患者的催产素浓度更高，并且他们的催产素水平与 BDD 症状的严重程度呈正相关。催产素水平与社会认知测量之间没有关联。这些发现表明 BDD 中内源性催产素的产生增加。需要前瞻性研究来确定这是否有助于或是 BDD 症状的结果。与我们的假设相反，与健康对照组相比，BDD 患者的催产素浓度更高，并且他们的催产素水平与 BDD 症状的严重程度呈正相关。催产素水平与社会认知测量之间没有关联。这些发现表明 BDD 中内源性催产素的产生增加。需要前瞻性研究来确定这是否有助于或是 BDD 症状的结果。与我们的假设相反，与健康对照组相比，BDD 患者的催产素浓度更高，并且他们的催产素水平与 BDD 症状的严重程度呈正相关。催产素水平与社会认知测量之间没有关联。这些发现表明 BDD 中内源性催产素的产生增加。需要前瞻性研究来确定这是否有助于或是 BDD 症状的结果。