Intranasal Oxytocin and Physical Intimacy for Dermatological Wound Healing and Neuroendocrine Stress

Does the repeated administration of oxytocin, combined with positive couple interaction, improve wound healing?In a randomized clinical trial involving 80 romantic couples, those who received daily oxytocin and were instructed to engage in positive interactions showed enhanced healing of dermatological wounds, especially when engaging in daily physical intimacy.These findings suggest that combining oxytocin administration with positive relational behaviors may support physical healing, offering a potential pathway for psychosocial interventions in health-related contexts.

Corresponding Authors: Beate Ditzen, PhD (b.ditzen@psychologie.uzh.ch), and Ekaterina Schneider, PhD (e.schneider@psychologie.uzh.ch), Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland.

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