Investigating how estradiol affects brain responses to rewards in women experiencing menopause-related mood disorders.

Examining the Effects of Estradiol on Neural and Molecular Response to Rewards in Perimenopausal-Onset Anhedonia and Psychosis

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11001915

This study is looking at how hormonal changes during menopause affect mood issues like feeling less pleasure and experiencing psychosis, and it's for women going through perimenopause to help find better ways to treat these feelings.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11001915 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how hormonal changes during menopause influence mood disorders, specifically anhedonia and psychosis. By using advanced imaging techniques like PET and fMRI, the study aims to explore the relationship between brain activity related to rewards and the severity of depressive symptoms in women. Participants will be women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, allowing researchers to identify biological markers that could predict treatment responses and improve outcomes for those affected by these disorders.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, particularly those with anhedonia and psychosis.

Not a fit: Patients who are not experiencing perimenopausal symptoms or those with other unrelated mood disorders may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better-targeted treatments for women suffering from mood disorders during menopause.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using imaging techniques to study brain responses in mood disorders, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, 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.
Conditions Affective Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.