Hormone changes in perimenopause and trauma-related hyperarousal in Black women
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms Underlying Perimenopausal Risk for Trauma-Related Hyperarousal in Black Women
['FUNDING_R01'] · EMORY UNIVERSITY · NIH-11305204
This project tests whether changing levels of the hormone estradiol during perimenopause make trauma-related hyperarousal worse for Black women with past trauma.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | EMORY UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ATLANTA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11305204 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join if you are a Black woman going through perimenopause and have a history of trauma. The team will collect clinical interviews, measure physical fear responses (like startle and skin conductance), take blood samples to track estradiol over time, and perform brain scans to see how threat-related regions respond. Visits will be repeated across the perimenopausal transition to link hormone changes with symptoms and brain activity. The goal is to find biological patterns that explain why some women develop increased hyperarousal after trauma so future care can be better targeted.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Black-identifying women who are currently perimenopausal and have a history of trauma or trauma-related symptoms.
Not a fit: Men, people who are not perimenopausal, or those without a trauma history are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor prevention or treatment to hormonal changes during perimenopause and reduce trauma-related hyperarousal in Black women.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies link low estradiol to greater trauma-related reactivity, but longitudinal work across perimenopause specifically in Black women is novel.
Where this research is happening
ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
- EMORY UNIVERSITY — ATLANTA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MICHOPOULOS, VASILIKI — EMORY UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MICHOPOULOS, VASILIKI
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.