Chronobiological Basis of Menopausal Depression: Correcting Misaligned Circadian Rhythms with Sleep and Light Interventions

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn more about mood, sleep, and activity during menopause. The main question it aims to answer is: can mood and sleep dysfunction in menopause be improved by resetting misaligned circadian rhythm through one night of strategic sleep timing adjustment and two weeks of exposure to bright light at a certain time of day? Researchers will compare sleep timing (earlier vs. later) and bright white light exposure (morning or evening) to investigate the effect of melatonin levels on mood, sleep, and activity. Participants will 1) submit urine samples to measure melatonin levels, 2) be assigned to advance or delay their sleep for one night, 3) sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes per day (morning or evening) for 14 days, 4) complete questionnaires about their mood and sleep, and 5) wear a device that will measure their activity.

Conditions

Depression, Depression During the Menopausal Transition, Menopausal Depression

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn more about mood, sleep, and activity during menopause. The main question it aims to answer is: can mood and sleep dysfunction in menopause be improved by resetting misaligned circadian rhythm through one night of strategic sleep timing adjustment and two weeks of exposure to bright light at a certain time of day? Researchers will compare sleep timing (earlier vs. later) and bright white light exposure (morning or evening) to investigate the effect of melatonin levels on mood, sleep, and activity. Participants will 1) submit urine samples to measure melatonin levels, 2) be assigned to advance or delay their sleep for one night, 3) sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes per day (morning or evening) for 14 days, 4) complete questionnaires about their mood and sleep, and 5) wear a device that will measure their activity.

Chronobiological Basis of Depression During the Menopause Transition

Chronobiological Basis of Menopausal Depression: Correcting Misaligned Circadian Rhythms with Sleep and Light Interventions

Condition
Depression
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

San Diego

University of California San Diego Hillcrest Medical Center, San Diego, California, United States, 92103

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Perimenopausal women with irregular menstrual cycles for at least 3 months
  • * Above age 18
  • * Experiencing at least moderate depression symptoms (i.e., score of at least 10 on PHQ-9)
  • * Actively suicidal or psychotic
  • * History of bipolar disorder
  • * Staring new medications that would affect outcome measures (e.g., melatonin)
  • * Those in whom sleep restriction would be ill-advised (e.g., patients with epilepsy or those with occupations whose safety would be compromised).
  • * Women whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds the NIH criteria of \<18 or \> than 30

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of California, San Diego,

Barbara Parry, M.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of California, San Diego

Study Record Dates

2029-02-28