Hormone changes around menopause and psychosis risk in women

Hormonal Mechanisms of Perimenopausal Risk for Psychosis in Women

['FUNDING_R01'] · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11262216

This project looks at whether hormone changes during perimenopause lead to more psychotic symptoms in midlife women.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorMICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (EAST LANSING, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11262216 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would join a large group of 750 women that includes those before, during, and after menopause and many with higher psychosis risk. For 35 consecutive days you would report daily on psychotic and related symptoms while researchers collect hormone and other behavioral and neuroendocrine measurements. The study combines self-reports, other informant reports, and biological sampling to link day-to-day symptom changes with ovarian hormone fluctuations. The approach aims to isolate the perimenopausal window as a key time when risk may rise.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Women in midlife across premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause—especially those with prior psychotic symptoms, family history, or other risk factors—are the best fit.

Not a fit: Younger women far from menopause, men, or people without any risk factors for psychosis are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify hormonal timing and targets that lead to better prevention or treatments for psychosis risk in perimenopausal women.

How similar studies have performed: Related studies show links between low ovarian hormones and increased psychotic symptoms during menstrual-cycle and other reproductive events, but a focused, intensive perimenopause study of this scale is novel.

Where this research is happening

EAST LANSING, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.