Mood and Psychosis Symptoms during the Menopause Transition (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

This grant, entitled "Mood and Psychosis Symptoms during the Menopause Transition" (R21 Clinical Trial Optional), is a reissue of RFA-MH-21-106 and it aims to support and promote translational research that will provide a more thorough understanding of mood and psychotic disorders, such as perimenopausal depression (PMD), generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, that emerge or worsen during the menopause transition (MT). The purpose of this research is to identify potential targets for the development of new treatments.

Through this grant, researchers are encouraged to explore innovative methods to understand the underlying neurobiological and behavioural mechanisms of mood and psychotic disorders and the associated symptoms during the menopause transition. We are particularly interested in interdisciplinary research collaborations looking into understanding these disorders during MT.

The research can cover a variety of topics, including the exploration of typical depressive symptoms occurring alongside menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disruption, as well as psychological challenges experienced during this phase.

Research can also look into the role reproductive steroids play in mood and behaviour changes during the MT, diagnosis of mood and psychosis symptoms at various menopausal stages, investigation into coinciding menopausal and psychiatric symptoms, understanding of common psychosocial factors in midlife, and inquiries into differential diagnoses.

In reviewing applications, emphasis will be placed on the completeness of the neurobiology, the proposed mechanisms of action related to mood and psychosis symptoms, and the hypothesis-driven nature of the research.