Study of Sertraline and GABA-A Receptor Changes in Women Aged 18-50 with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

What this Trial Is About

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder PMDD is a serious mood disorder affecting many women, believed to be caused by changes in sensitivity to hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. This research will study the levels of certain brain-related hormones and receptor proteins in women with and without PMDD during the premenstrual phase. It will also explore how a low-dose antidepressant medication affects these measures in women with PMDD to better understand the disorder and its treatment mechanisms. The study includes three groups women without premenstrual symptoms, women with PMDD taking sertraline 50 mg daily during the second menstrual cycle, and women with PMDD taking a placebo pill in the second cycle. Participants will track their mood, complete surveys, and have blood samples taken multiple times across one or two menstrual cycles. The sertraline or placebo is taken from ovulation until the start of menstruation in the second cycle. Participants will be involved in mood tracking, self-report questionnaires, and blood draws throughout the study. Researchers will measure neuroactive steroid levels, enzyme expression related to these steroids, and receptor subunit levels during and after the menstrual phases. The study will monitor these changes over cycles lasting up to three months, with careful safety and symptom monitoring. Participation lasts across one or two menstrual cycles depending on the group.

Allopregnanolone and Dynamic GABA-A Receptor Plasticity in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Responsive Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder