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Characterization and Digital Phenotyping of Migraine and Affective Disorders during Hormonal Fluctuations across the Life Course

Award Number: K01MH136417
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/05/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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Characterization and Digital Phenotyping of Migraine and Affective Disorders during Hormonal Fluctuations across the Life Course - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Approximately 1 in 3 reproductive aged women and girls suffer from migraine, the most disabling disease of this demographic worldwide. Affective disorders are 2-3 times more common among migraineurs, and migraineurs with psychiatric comorbidity report more functional impairment and worse quality of life than migraineurs without psychiatric conditions. Despite the high prevalence of this comorbidity and evidence of shared pathophysiology, the association between migraine and affective disorders remains largely unexplored. Fluctuations in female sex hormone levels play a significant role in migraine and affective disorder presentations and are particularly volatile across the menstrual cycle and during reproductive life transitions (puberty, postpartum, menopause); however, the longitudinal relationship between migraines and affective disorders across the life course has not been studied. Up to two-thirds of female migraineurs experience menstrual migraine and half of women with affective disorders report premenstrual exacerbation of anxiety and depression. However, migraine has not been studied as a risk factor for premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder or as a marker of increased hormonal sensitivity among women with anxiety or depression. The objective of this research is to collect and analyze detailed longitudinal data on migraine and mental health symptoms to establish migraineurs as a unique phenotype of individuals with affective disorders due to their vulnerability to hormonal fluctuations. In Aim 1, Dr. Crowe will determine the longitudinal association between migraine and affective disorders across the lifespan with an emphasis on hormonal transitions using data from the Nurses’ Health Study cohorts. In Aims 2 and 3, she will focus her work on hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle. She will design and implement a sub-study in the Nurses’ Health Study 3 and Growing Up Today Study cohorts using smartphone data and ecological momentary analysis to estimate the relationship between migraine (menstrual and overall) and premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorders (Aim 2). Dr. Crowe will also collect data on affective disorder symptom variability across the menstrual cycle among migraineurs, compared to non-migraineurs (Aim 3). To carry out this research, Dr. Crowe will receive training and mentorship from a team with expertise in epidemiological measurement of affective disorders, smartphone digital phenotyping, and modeling of high-dimensional longitudinal data. She will also draw on the myriad professional resources available at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Altogether, the proposed research and training will improve affective disorder risk assessment and screening, inform treatment for those with comorbid affective disorders and migraine and prepare Dr. Crowe with the skills and preliminary data to become an independent researcher at the intersection of mental health and reproductive epidemiology.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $185,220 )
2026	2026	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	8/28/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$185,220
														Subtotal = $185,220

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $185,220 )
2025	2025	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	8/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$185,220
2025	2024	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	11/29/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $185,220

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $185,220 )
2024	2024	BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL INC	75 FRANCIS ST	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/5/2024	NEW	$185,220
														Subtotal = $185,220

Grand Total All Awards = $555,660

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Characterization and Digital Phenotyping of Migraine and Affective Disorders during Hormonal Fluctuations across the Life Course

Award Number: K01MH136417

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/05/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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