Premenstrual Dysphoric DisorderPHASE ProjectNCT03862469
Premenstrual Hormonal and Affective State Evaluation (PHASE) Project
A study testing Individualized laboratory test in people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, run by University of Illinois Chicago at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
PHASE is designed to evaluate neuroactive hormone trajectories across the menstrual cycle and endocrine, autonomic, and subjective responses to psychosocial stress in women suffering from severe PMS (i.e., premenstrual dysphoric disorder). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Individualized laboratory test
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 129 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 26 Sep 2019to 1 Sep 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female
- Aged 18-35 years, established by visual inspection of a government-issued ID
- Average menstrual cycle 21-35 days
Who cannot join
- Lifetime DSM-5 Axis 1 disorder (except anxiety and depression), as documented in the Mental Health Interview
- Current DSM-5 Axis depressive or anxiety disorder, as documented in the Mental Health Interview
- Positive urine drug screen test
- Breath alcohol concentration >0.00%
- Self-reported smoker or carbon monoxide concentration ≥ 6 ppm
- Irregular menstrual cycle
Show all 10Show fewer
- Current pregnancy (urine test-verified) or lactation, or a plan to become pregnant
- Moderate or high suicide risk
- Shipley IQ (vocabulary standard score) > 80
- Any prescription medications (including hormonal forms of birth control)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Illinois Department of Pharmacy Practice
Chicago, Illinois, 60612
About this study
PHASE is designed to evaluate neuroactive hormone trajectories across the menstrual cycle and endocrine, autonomic, and subjective responses to psychosocial stress in women suffering from severe PMS (i.e., premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
Read the detailed description
Female volunteers will be recruited from the community for participation in this 3-menstrual cycle study. In the first two menstrual cycles, study participants will chart their symptoms and and ovulation. Study participants will continue to perform ovulation testing during their third menstrual cycle in which they will attend one individualized task session and provide 8 serum samples at different timepoints across the menstrual cycle. Primary analyses will contrast neuroactive hormone trajectories across the menstrual cycle and stress reactivity according to study groups (PMDD vs healthy).
- Conditions
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Being tested
- Individualized laboratory test
- Medical subject headings
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Individualized laboratory testProcedure or surgery
Laboratory test administered between 6 and 2 days prior to the subsequent menstrual cycle.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| All Participants | Other | Not described Receives: Procedure: Individualized laboratory test |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Hormone Analysis
Cortisol
Measured: -20, +20, +30, +40, +50, +65, +90 minutes in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (one day between -1 to -6 days of the subsequent menstrual cycle)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2019
- Study start26 Sep 2019
- Primary completion1 Sep 2023
- Study completion1 Sep 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (26)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Premenstrual Dysphoric DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 129 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ajna Hamidovic, PharmD, MS, University of Illinois Chicago
- Investigators
- Ajna Hamidovic, PharmD, MS, Principal investigator, University of Illinois Chicago
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03862469
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2018-1533
- Other IDs
- R21MH119642
- Acronym
- PHASE Project
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2019
- Last updated
- 24 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Allen AP, Kennedy PJ, Dockray S, Cryan JF, Dinan TG, Clarke G. The Trier Social Stress Test: Principles and practice. Neurobiol Stress. 2016 Nov 12;6:113-126. doi: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.11.001. eCollection 2017 Feb.
PubMed 28229114American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Premenstrual Syndrome. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 15. Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2000.
Backstrom T, Sanders D, Leask R, Davidson D, Warner P, Bancroft J. Mood, sexuality, hormones, and the menstrual cycle. II. Hormone levels and their relationship to the premenstrual syndrome. Psychosom Med. 1983 Dec;45(6):503-7. doi: 10.1097/00006842-198312000-00004.
PubMed 6686333Carlin, J. B., Galati, J. C., & Royston, P. (2008). A new framework for managing and analyzing multiply imputed data in Stata. Stata Journal, 8(1), 49-67.
Critchlow DG, Bond AJ, Wingrove J. Mood disorder history and personality assessment in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Sep;62(9):688-93. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v62n0905.
PubMed 11681764Cunningham J, Yonkers KA, O'Brien S, Eriksson E. Update on research and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2009;17(2):120-37. doi: 10.1080/10673220902891836.
PubMed 19373620Deng D, Pang Y, Duan G, Liu H, Liao H, Liu P, Liu Y, Li S, Chen W, Wen D, Xuan C, Li M. Larger volume and different functional connectivity of the amygdala in women with premenstrual syndrome. Eur Radiol. 2018 May;28(5):1900-1908. doi: 10.1007/s00330-017-5206-0. Epub 2017 Dec 19.
PubMed 29260367Endicott J, Nee J, Harrison W. Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP): reliability and validity. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2006 Jan;9(1):41-9. doi: 10.1007/s00737-005-0103-y. Epub 2005 Sep 20.
PubMed 16172836Fischer S, Cleare AJ. Cortisol as a predictor of psychological therapy response in anxiety disorders-Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Anxiety Disord. 2017 Apr;47:60-68. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.02.007. Epub 2017 Feb 24.
PubMed 28273494Hamidovic A, Childs E, Conrad M, King A, de Wit H. Stress-induced changes in mood and cortisol release predict mood effects of amphetamine. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Jun 1;109(1-3):175-80. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.029. Epub 2010 Feb 21.
PubMed 20176450Howards PP, Schisterman EF, Wactawski-Wende J, Reschke JE, Frazer AA, Hovey KM. Timing clinic visits to phases of the menstrual cycle by using a fertility monitor: the BioCycle Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jan 1;169(1):105-12. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwn287. Epub 2008 Oct 30.
PubMed 18974081Kirschbaum C, Pirke KM, Hellhammer DH. The 'Trier Social Stress Test'--a tool for investigating psychobiological stress responses in a laboratory setting. Neuropsychobiology. 1993;28(1-2):76-81. doi: 10.1159/000119004.
PubMed 8255414Kraemer HC, Mintz J, Noda A, Tinklenberg J, Yesavage JA. Caution regarding the use of pilot studies to guide power calculations for study proposals. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 May;63(5):484-9. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.63.5.484.
PubMed 16651505Leon AC, Davis LL, Kraemer HC. The role and interpretation of pilot studies in clinical research. J Psychiatr Res. 2011 May;45(5):626-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.10.008. Epub 2010 Oct 28.
PubMed 21035130Lovick TA. Estrous cycle and stress: influence of progesterone on the female brain. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012 Apr;45(4):314-20. doi: 10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500044. Epub 2012 Mar 29.
PubMed 22450372
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Premenstrual Hormonal and Affective State Evaluation (PHASE) Project
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03862469
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PHASE Project / 2018-1533
- Conditions
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 129 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois ChicagoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 26 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 24 Apr 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
PHASE is designed to evaluate neuroactive hormone trajectories across the menstrual cycle and endocrine, autonomic, and subjective responses to psychosocial stress in women suffering from severe PMS (i.e., premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
Detailed description
Female volunteers will be recruited from the community for participation in this 3-menstrual cycle study. In the first two menstrual cycles, study participants will chart their symptoms and and ovulation. Study participants will continue to perform ovulation testing during their third menstrual cycle in which they will attend one individualized task session and provide 8 serum samples at different timepoints across the menstrual cycle. Primary analyses will contrast neuroactive hormone trajectories across the menstrual cycle and stress reactivity according to study groups (PMDD vs healthy).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| All Participants | Other | Procedure: Individualized laboratory test |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Female
- Aged 18-35 years, established by visual inspection of a government-issued ID
- Average menstrual cycle 21-35 days
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Lifetime DSM-5 Axis 1 disorder (except anxiety and depression), as documented in the Mental Health Interview
- Current DSM-5 Axis depressive or anxiety disorder, as documented in the Mental Health Interview
- Positive urine drug screen test
- Breath alcohol concentration >0.00%
- Self-reported smoker or carbon monoxide concentration ≥ 6 ppm
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Individualized laboratory testLaboratory test administered between 6 and 2 days prior to the subsequent menstrual cycle. | Procedure or surgery | All Participants |
Primary outcome
Hormone Analysis
Time frame: -20, +20, +30, +40, +50, +65, +90 minutes in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (one day between -1 to -6 days of the subsequent menstrual cycle)
Cortisol
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Apr 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 28229114Allen AP, Kennedy PJ, Dockray S, Cryan JF, Dinan TG, Clarke G. The Trier Social Stress Test: Principles and practice. Neurobiol Stress. 2016 Nov 12;6:113-126. doi: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.11.001. eCollection 2017 Feb.
- BackgroundAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Premenstrual Syndrome. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 15. Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2000.
- Background: PubMed 6686333Backstrom T, Sanders D, Leask R, Davidson D, Warner P, Bancroft J. Mood, sexuality, hormones, and the menstrual cycle. II. Hormone levels and their relationship to the premenstrual syndrome. Psychosom Med. 1983 Dec;45(6):503-7. doi: 10.1097/00006842-198312000-00004.
- BackgroundCarlin, J. B., Galati, J. C., & Royston, P. (2008). A new framework for managing and analyzing multiply imputed data in Stata. Stata Journal, 8(1), 49-67.
- Background: PubMed 11681764Critchlow DG, Bond AJ, Wingrove J. Mood disorder history and personality assessment in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Sep;62(9):688-93. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v62n0905.
- Background: PubMed 19373620Cunningham J, Yonkers KA, O'Brien S, Eriksson E. Update on research and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2009;17(2):120-37. doi: 10.1080/10673220902891836.
- Background: PubMed 29260367Deng D, Pang Y, Duan G, Liu H, Liao H, Liu P, Liu Y, Li S, Chen W, Wen D, Xuan C, Li M. Larger volume and different functional connectivity of the amygdala in women with premenstrual syndrome. Eur Radiol. 2018 May;28(5):1900-1908. doi: 10.1007/s00330-017-5206-0. Epub 2017 Dec 19.
- Background: PubMed 16172836Endicott J, Nee J, Harrison W. Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP): reliability and validity. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2006 Jan;9(1):41-9. doi: 10.1007/s00737-005-0103-y. Epub 2005 Sep 20.
- Background: PubMed 28273494Fischer S, Cleare AJ. Cortisol as a predictor of psychological therapy response in anxiety disorders-Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Anxiety Disord. 2017 Apr;47:60-68. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.02.007. Epub 2017 Feb 24.
- Background: PubMed 20176450Hamidovic A, Childs E, Conrad M, King A, de Wit H. Stress-induced changes in mood and cortisol release predict mood effects of amphetamine. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010 Jun 1;109(1-3):175-80. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.029. Epub 2010 Feb 21.
- Background: PubMed 18974081Howards PP, Schisterman EF, Wactawski-Wende J, Reschke JE, Frazer AA, Hovey KM. Timing clinic visits to phases of the menstrual cycle by using a fertility monitor: the BioCycle Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jan 1;169(1):105-12. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwn287. Epub 2008 Oct 30.
- Background: PubMed 8255414Kirschbaum C, Pirke KM, Hellhammer DH. The 'Trier Social Stress Test'--a tool for investigating psychobiological stress responses in a laboratory setting. Neuropsychobiology. 1993;28(1-2):76-81. doi: 10.1159/000119004.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ajna Hamidovic, PharmD, MS principal investigator
University of Illinois Chicago
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Individualized laboratory test in people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, run by University of Illinois Chicago at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 24 Apr 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Hormone Analysis (time frame: -20, +20, +30, +40, +50, +65, +90 minutes in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (one day between -1 to -6 days of the subsequent menstrual cycle)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03862469, which also lists 26 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Apr 2025.