Scientists have found that the immune system, the body's system dedicated to fighting infections, can be in a state of "hyperactivity" (i.e., more active than you would normally expect) in some people with depression and postnatal depression, despite the lack of any actual ongoing infection. This response is referred to as inflammation. This discovery has unveiled unique opportunities to identify new medications to help patients with this heightened inflammation who have also not been responding to their antidepressant medications.
This study aims to explore how inflammation in the body may be linked to symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) across the menstrual cycle, and how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours also may change throughout the cycle. We are recruiting two groups of people: People with a clinical or provisional (suspected) diagnosis of PMDD, and healthy controls who experience mild/no premenstrual changes.
Over a two-month period, participants will complete daily psychological assessments across two menstrual cycles and will come into King's College Hospital (KCH) twice during one menstrual cycle to provide blood samples to measure their inflammation. By comparing these groups, we hope to gain a better understanding of the biological and psychological factors involved in PMDD, with the long-term goal of improving treatment options.
Have been assigned female sex at birth (AFAB), with ovaries
Be aged between 18-42 years (inclusive)
Be able to provide written informed consent
Be premenopausal
Have a lifetime history of a psychotic disorder (including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or major depressive disorder with psychotic features) or bipolar disorder (past or present)
Meet criteria for any other current major psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study participation, as determined by the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview.
Have a history of drug or alcohol dependence within the previous 12 months.
Have a diagnosed intellectual disability, pervasive developmental disorder or significant neurological disorder (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy or Parkinson's disease).
King's College London
Lead sponsor
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Collaborator