Negative Emotionality and Epigenetics During Puberty
Launched by INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH TRAINING GROUP 2804 · Nov 14, 2024
Trial Information
Current as of August 20, 2025
Recruiting
Keywords
ClinConnect Summary
This clinical trial is studying how puberty affects emotions and mental health in girls. Researchers want to understand the changes in genes and hormones during this important time and how these changes might contribute to feelings of stress or depression. They believe that girls may experience more emotional challenges after puberty compared to boys, and this study aims to learn more about those differences.
To participate, girls must be healthy, between the ages of 8 to 10 or 15 to 17, and at specific stages of puberty. They should also have a normal body weight for their age and attend school. Participants will not have any neurological or psychiatric conditions, and they should not be taking certain medications or participating in competitive sports. Those who join the study may undergo various tests, including MRI scans, to help researchers gather information about their emotional responses during puberty. This study is important as it may provide insights into why some girls face more mental health challenges as they grow up.
Gender
FEMALE
Eligibility criteria
- Inclusion Criteria:
- • healthy girls
- • aged between 8-10 and having pubertal stage 1 or between 15-17 and having pubertal stage 5
- • normal body mass index according to age (between 5th and 85th percentile)
- • non-smoking
- • German language fluency
- • Attending age-appropriate schools
- Exclusion Criteria:
- • neurological or psychiatric disease
- • medical problems such as hormonal, metabolic, developmental or chronic diseases (e.g., congenital disorders, precocious puberty, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes or congestive heart failure)
- • any kind of hormonal, pharmacological or psychotropic treatment in the last three months
- • engaging in competitive/extreme sports
- Additional exclusion criteria for MRI:
- • People with non-removable metal objects on or in the body
- • Tattoos (if not MRI-incompatible according to expert guidelines)
- • Pathological hearing or increased sensitivity to loud noises
- • Claustrophobia
- • Surgery less than three months ago
- • Moderate or severe head injury
About International Research Training Group 2804
The International Research Training Group 2804 is a collaborative initiative focused on advancing scientific knowledge and innovation through rigorous clinical research. This program fosters interdisciplinary training and mentorship for early-career researchers, equipping them with essential skills in research methodology, data analysis, and ethical practices. By integrating diverse expertise across institutions, the group aims to address critical health challenges and enhance the quality of clinical outcomes. Through its commitment to excellence and collaboration, the International Research Training Group 2804 contributes significantly to the global research landscape while promoting the professional development of future leaders in the field.
Contacts
Jennifer Cobb
Immunology at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Locations
Tuebingen, Bw, Germany
Patients applied
Trial Officials
Vanessa Nieratschker, Prof.
Principal Investigator
University Hospital Tuebingen
Mirac Nur Musaoglu, MD
Study Director
University Hospital Tuebingen
Timeline
First submit
Trial launched
Trial updated
Estimated completion
Not reported