Estrogen, puberty, and early signs of psychosis in teens
Official title: Estrogen and Mechanisms of Psychotic-like Experiences in the Transition toAdolescence
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11469962 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how rising estrogen during puberty in girls may influence early brain changes and psychotic-like experiences as kids become teens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $292,662 |
| NIH project number | 7R21MH136408-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11469962 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Biological females going through puberty who may exhibit early psychotic-like experiences.
✕Less likely to help
Teens or families not experiencing or reporting psychotic-like symptoms may be less directly affected.
What this research studies
The project follows girls through puberty to see how estrogen might shape brain development and early psychosis risk. It uses longitudinal observations and brain imaging to understand how hormonal changes relate to subtle psychotic-like symptoms. Findings could help identify when and how to intervene during the transition from childhood to adolescence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early identification and timing of interventions for teens at risk of psychotic disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests hormones influence brain development and psychosis risk, but longitudinal links during puberty are not well established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Damme, Katherine Steffen Filip — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Damme, Katherine Steffen Filip
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.