Allopregnanolone and GABA receptor changes in PMDD treated with low-dose SSRIs
2/2 Allopregnanolone and Dynamic GABA-A Receptor Plasticity in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Responsive Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
This work looks at whether the hormone-related brain chemical allopregnanolone and changes in GABA brain receptors explain how low-dose SSRIs help women with PMDD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11348269 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a multi-site, placebo-controlled project that enrolls women with regular menstrual cycles, including those with PMDD and healthy controls. Participants provide timed luteal-phase samples (blood and other biospecimens) and are randomized to low-dose SSRI or placebo to see how hormone-related neurosteroids and GABA-A receptor markers change. The team measures levels of allopregnanolone and related isomers, expression of GABA-A receptor subunits, and enzymes that make neurosteroids. Findings aim to link biological changes across the menstrual cycle to symptoms and to how SSRIs work for PMDD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women with regular menstrual cycles who meet clinical criteria for PMDD and are willing to undergo timed study visits and short-term low-dose SSRI or placebo treatment are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without PMDD, those with irregular cycles, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those already on long-term antidepressant treatment may not benefit or be eligible to participate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could clarify why low-dose SSRIs help and guide development of more targeted treatments for PMDD.
How similar studies have performed: Low-dose SSRIs are already known to help PMDD symptoms clinically, but directly linking allopregnanolone and GABA-A receptor changes to treatment response in a placebo-controlled design is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Payne, Jennifer L — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Payne, Jennifer L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.