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Ovarian Steroid Effects on Mood and Sleep Across the Adolescent Menstrual Cycle

Award Number: K23MH136325
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: 08/31/2029

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Ovarian Steroid Effects on Mood and Sleep Across the Adolescent Menstrual Cycle - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT After menarche, females are twice as likely to develop depression and sleep problems than males. Ovarian steroids have been hypothesized to play a role, but prior work has failed to clarify the effect of ovarian steroids on mood and sleep problems. Hormone sensitivity (neural vulnerability to normal fluctuations in hormones across the menstrual cycle) is a promising candidate, particularly sensitivity to estrogen withdrawal (E2), but little is known about hormone sensitivity in adolescents. This work is hindered by traditional statistical approaches (multilevel modeling (MLM) with phase contrasts), as they rely on the assumption of a regular, ovulatory cycle, which adolescents often do not have. The proposed study will characterize hormone sensitivity in adolescents by collecting daily assessments of mood ratings, sleep (via self-report and actigraphy), and ovarian steroid hormones (via dried urine strips) from 50 female adolescents, aged 11-14, at least one-year post-menarche, with regular cycles (21-45 days) and elevated depressive symptoms. For adolescents with ovulatory cycles, multilevel models (MLM) with phase contrasts will be used to evaluate menstrual cycle effects on symptoms and sleep, and the Carolina Premenstrual Assessment Scoring System (C-PASS) will be used to identify clinically significant premenstrual exacerbation of symptoms (Aim 1). I hypothesize that depressive symptoms and sleep problems will be higher in the perimenstrual phase of the cycle compared to all other phases. Across the full sample, longitudinal network models will be used to address limitations of multilevel modeling; networks of associations between E2, mood symptoms, and sleep problems across the cycle will be estimated (Aim 2), with the hypothesis that decreases in E2 will be associated with subsequent increases in sleep problems followed by increases in mood symptoms. Exploratory analyses estimate the indirect effect of E2 on mood symptoms via sleep problems (Aim 3). This knowledge could facilitate earlier identification and prevention efforts and lay the groundwork for future research on the developmental contribution of hormone sensitivity to sex differences in depression and sleep problems. The training plan closely matches the proposed research and long-term goals with an emphasis on activities that will facilitate the candidate’s development as an independent investigator. Specifically, the training goals are to (1) gain immersive training in research on the menstrual cycle and hormone sensitivity with adolescents, (2) develop competence in the assessment of sleep via actigraphy and self-report in adolescents, and (3) gain proficiency in idiographic longitudinal methods for use with menstrual cycle data. A mentorship team with expertise across these areas has been assembled, and Brown University is a world-renowned clinical research institution with an extensive history of NIH funding and supporting career development awards. Overall, the broad aim of these research and training goals is to support the candidate’s development of an independent research program examining the biological mechanisms of the sex differences in depression and sleep problems that emerge after puberty.


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 = $196,776 )
2026	2026	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	8/24/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$196,776
														Subtotal = $196,776

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $196,776 )
2025	2025	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	9/19/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$196,776
2025	2024	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/19/2025	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $196,776

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $196,776 )
2024	2024	EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL	1011 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY	RIVERSIDE	RI	02915	PROVIDENCE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/5/2024	NEW	$196,776
														Subtotal = $196,776

Grand Total All Awards = $590,328

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Ovarian Steroid Effects on Mood and Sleep Across the Adolescent Menstrual Cycle

Award Number: K23MH136325

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: 08/31/2029

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