Emotional Processing and Oxytocin Mechanisms in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Pilot Study

Emotional Processing and Oxytocin Mechanisms in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Pilot Study

This research study will look at brain and symptom differences among women with severe premenstrual mood symptoms. One goal of this study is to look at the effects of taking a nasal spray containing oxytocin (a hormone made in the brain) on brain areas involved in emotion regulation while viewing pictures during a neuroimaging (fMRI) session. The investigators will also look at whether oxytocin improves premenstrual mood symptoms.

Purpose: The primary objective of this pilot study is to use functional neuroimaging techniques to begin to identify the central brain networks that may contribute to impairment in emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, and marital and family function in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), particularly for those women who also have a history of early life abuse (ELA).

Based on the evidence that the mammalian neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), best known for its role in lactation and parturition, plays a seminal role in social affiliation, emotion regulation, attachment, maternal behavior, trust, and protection against stress; and because OT neural pathways and receptors are prominently expressed in brain regions involved in emotion regulation and maternal/affiliative behavior; the study will: 1) use intranasal OT administration as a probe to assess whether it modifies activation of brain regions involved in emotion regulation in response to an emotional processing task; and 2) whether daily intranasal OT administration during the premenstrual phase improves symptoms in women with PMDD with or without a history of ELA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• In order to be eligible to enter this study, subjects will have met PMDD Study Entry Criteria in the diagnostic feeder study (IRB# 05-3000)
• 18 to 52 years of age
• Regular menstrual cycles
• Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• current psychiatric diagnosis of substance abuse or claustrophobia (fear of closed places)
• pregnancy (based on urine pregnancy test) or breastfeeding
• use of psychiatric medication (e.g. for depression, anxiety), hormonal medication, other agents that alter mood or thinking, or street drugs
• any foreign iron or steel metal objects in the body, such as a pacemaker, shrapnel, metal plate, certain types of tattoos, or metal debris