Stress, Inflammation and Neuroimaging in Major Depressive Disorder as Compared to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL TUEBINGEN · Nov 13, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying two types of depression: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a condition that affects women, causing severe mood swings and anxiety related to their menstrual cycle. Researchers want to understand how stress and certain hormones relate to these disorders and how they differ from one another. To do this, they will compare three groups of women: those with MDD, those with PMDD, and healthy women without either condition.

Women aged 18 to 40 who have regular menstrual cycles and a healthy body weight may be eligible to participate. Participants will undergo various tests to help researchers learn more about how stress and hormones impact mood disorders. It's important to note that women who have had any neurological or mental health issues, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, cannot join the study. By participating, women can contribute to important research that may lead to better understanding and treatment of these conditions.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Women,
• • age between 18 and 40 years (no menopausal women),
• • regular menstrual cycles (25-31 days),
• • normal body mass index (18-35 kg/m2),
• • German language fluency
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • any neurological or mental disease (only for healthy participants)
• • hormonal, metabolic or chronical diseases
• • pregnancy
• • women who gave birth or were breastfeeding within the last year
• • women with any kind of steroid hormonal treatment
• • oral contraceptive treatment in the last three months
• • psychotropic treatment, only if regular
• • engagement in competitive sports
• • shift work