Emotional Processing and Oxytocin Mechanisms in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Pilot Study
| Status: | Enrolling by invitation |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Women's Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Reproductive |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 52 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | July 2015 |
| End Date: | June 2016 |
This research study will look at differences among women with severe premenstrual mood
symptoms. One goal of this study is to look at how the brains of two groups of these women
respond to emotional information. The two groups are women who were abused early in life and
women who were not. The study will use a brain scan to look at how certain areas of the
brain respond to the viewing of words and pictures. Another goal of this study is to look at
the effects of taking a nasal spray containing oxytocin (a hormone made in the brain) on
those same brain areas during the viewing of words and pictures. Also, the investigators
will look at whether oxytocin given in the nose improves premenstrual mood symptoms.
symptoms. One goal of this study is to look at how the brains of two groups of these women
respond to emotional information. The two groups are women who were abused early in life and
women who were not. The study will use a brain scan to look at how certain areas of the
brain respond to the viewing of words and pictures. Another goal of this study is to look at
the effects of taking a nasal spray containing oxytocin (a hormone made in the brain) on
those same brain areas during the viewing of words and pictures. Also, the investigators
will look at whether oxytocin given in the nose improves premenstrual mood symptoms.
Purpose: The primary objective of this pilot study is to begin to identify the central
networks using functional neuroimaging techniques that may contribute to the greater
impairment in emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, and marital and family
function in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) who also have a history of
early life abuse (ELA).
Based on the evidence that the mammalian neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), best known for its role
in lactation and parturition, plays a seminal role in social affiliation, emotion
regulation, attachment, maternal behavior, trust, and protection against stress; and because
OT neural pathways and receptors are prominently expressed in brain regions involved in
emotion regulation and maternal/affiliative behavior; the study will: 1) use intranasal OT
administration as a probe to assess whether it modifies activation of central regions
involved in emotion regulation in response to cognitive emotional tasks; and 2) whether
daily intranasal OT administration during the premenstrual phase improves symptoms in women
with PMDD with or without a history of ELA.
networks using functional neuroimaging techniques that may contribute to the greater
impairment in emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, and marital and family
function in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) who also have a history of
early life abuse (ELA).
Based on the evidence that the mammalian neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), best known for its role
in lactation and parturition, plays a seminal role in social affiliation, emotion
regulation, attachment, maternal behavior, trust, and protection against stress; and because
OT neural pathways and receptors are prominently expressed in brain regions involved in
emotion regulation and maternal/affiliative behavior; the study will: 1) use intranasal OT
administration as a probe to assess whether it modifies activation of central regions
involved in emotion regulation in response to cognitive emotional tasks; and 2) whether
daily intranasal OT administration during the premenstrual phase improves symptoms in women
with PMDD with or without a history of ELA.
Inclusion Criteria:
- In order to be eligible to enter this study, subjects will have met PMDD Study Entry
Criteria in the diagnostic feeder study (IRB# 05-3000)
- 18 to 52 years of age
- Regular menstrual cycles
- Ability to give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- current psychiatric diagnosis of substance abuse or claustrophobia (fear of closed
places)
- pregnancy (based on urine pregnancy test) or breastfeeding
- use of psychiatric medication (e.g. for depression, anxiety), hormonal medication,
other agents that alter mood or thinking, or street drugs
- any foreign iron or steel metal objects in the body, such as a pacemaker, shrapnel,
metal plate, certain types of tattoos, or metal debris
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