Chronobiological Basis of Depression During the Menopause Transition
University of California, San Diego
Summary
\*\*Participants must live in San Diego County\*\* The purpose of this study is to learn more about an experimental Sleep \& Light Intervention (SALI) for menopausal mood changes or depression. Researchers want to find out whether adjusting the body's internal clock-which helps regulate sleep, hormones, mood, and energy- can improve symptoms such as depression, poor sleep, and low energy during menopause.
Description
Our bodies naturally follow a 24-hour internal clock that helps regulate sleep, hormones, mood, and energy. During menopause, hormonal changes can disrupt the timing of this internal clock, which may contribute to mood changes, sleep problems, and low energy. Participants will be asked to change their sleep timing for one night and use bright light at specific times of day for two weeks. In previous studies, some women experienced improvements in mood within days to weeks. SALI does not use medication and has few side effects. Participants must live in San Diego County. Interested individual…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 45–75 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged 45-75 years old * Experiencing significant down, sad or hopeless feelings that are affecting their daily life * These mood changes started or got worse during the menopause transition * Irregular or no menstrual cycle for at least 6 months * Non-smoking * Located in San Diego County Exclusion Criteria: * Untreated sleep apnea * Migraine headaches that are triggered or worsened by bright light * Currently suicidal or psychotic * History of bipolar disorder * A medical condition or job where fatigue or changes in sleep schedule could be unsafe * Planning to st…
Interventions
- BehavioralPhase Advanced Intervention (PAI)
Phase-advanced restricted sleep (i.e., sleep 9pm-1am only) for 1 night, followed by morning bright white light for 30 min/day for 2 weeks.
- BehavioralPhase Delay Intervention (PDI)
Phase-delayed restricted sleep (i.e., sleep 3am to 7am only) for 1 night, followed by evening bright white light for 30 min/day for 2 weeks.
Location
- University of California San Diego Hillcrest Medical CenterSan Diego, California