The SPARK-PMDD Study
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 [+11]
Have a lifetime history of a psychotic disorder (including schizophrenia, schizo... [+10]