Menstrually Related Mood Disorder Studies
Menstrually Related Mood Disorders Screening
There are currently two studies for women
with a menstrually related mood disorder such as premenstrual syndrome
(PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
1. If you have PMDD
and are currently being treated with an antidepressant but you are not
experiencing adequate relief
Over the last few years anti-depressants
have become the first line treatment for PMDD, although many women do
not experience adequate relief of their symptoms with this treatment
alone. This study will investigate the addition of Quetiapine to anti-depressant
treatment for PMDD.
- Quetiapine (Seroquel) is an FDA approved psychiatric medicine.
- Participants in this study have a 50/50 chance of receiving the active
drug or placebo.
- Study Participation will last for approximately 5 months and involves
multiple visits to UNC Hospital.
If you......
1) Experience severe PMS or PMDD,
2) Are currently taking an anti-depressant (or SSRI or SNRI),
3) Use some form of birth control
Please call 919-966-1392
2. If you think
that you may have PMDD and wish to be evaluated for it and participate
in other studies providing treatment or monetary compensation
If you suffer during the week before
menstruation from depression, irritability, anxiety or mood swings,
and these symptoms interfere with normal functioning or interpersonal
relationships then you may have a menstrually related mood disorder
such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(PMDD). You may receive diagnostic feedback on your symptoms and medical
evaluations in this study
If you …..
1) have mood symptoms only pre-menstrually and not after the onset of
menstruation
2) are medically healthy and not currently suffering from some other
chronic psychiatric condition
3) are 18 – 50 years of age with regular menstrual cycles
4) are not taking any medications, including antidepressants and birth
control pills
Women diagnosed in this study with PMS or PMDD may then
be eligible to participate in other research studies designed to give
treatment or monetary compensation.
Please call 919-966-2547
Childhood Trauma in the Adrenergic and HPA-axis Regulation and Symptoms in PMDD
This is a five year study, to be funded by the National Institute of Mental Health in the spring of 2007 (pending approval). This study is designed to compare women who have been sexually or physically abused with women who have never been abused for differences in daily mood and physical symptoms, sensitivity to laboratory pain procedures, and hormone responses to stress. This study is also aimed at understanding how abuse histories may affect women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) differently than non-PMDD women.
Women 18 – 45 years of age, with regular menstrual cycles who are not taking any prescription medication, including birth control pills or antidepressants are eligible. Each participant will keep daily symptom records for two months, undergo a psychological interview, and come into the laboratory for three test sessions involving measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormone levels in response to speech and mental arithmetic stress, and also in response to a pain test involving inflation of a blood pressure cuff on the arm. Because this study is interested in how heart rate responses to stress influence pain sensitivity, in one session a very short acting drug will be used to increase heart rate by 25 beats, and in another session heart rate increases to stress will prevented with a different short acting drug.
The results of this study are intended to help researchers develop different treatment options for women with PMDD, particularly those with histories of abuse. This study will also provide new insight into long lasting biological changes associated with abuse histories in all women, and how such changes contribute to mood and somatic complaints. Women will receive financial compensation for their participation and feedback on their menstrual symptom profiles.
