Perimenopause Psychosis Study – MSU Research
- Michigan State University researchers are launching a extensive study into the link between hormonal changes during perimenopause and mental health conditions, including psychosis and bipolar disorder, funded by...
- For decades, women's midlife experiences have been largely overlooked by medical research.
- Now, researchers from Michigan State University's Department of psychology are examining this understudied period and its potential impacts on mental health thanks to a $3.7 million grant from...
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MSU Receives $3.7 Million Grant to Study Perimenopause and Mental Health
Table of Contents
Michigan State University researchers are launching a extensive study into the link between hormonal changes during perimenopause and mental health conditions, including psychosis and bipolar disorder, funded by a $3.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.
The Overlooked Period of Perimenopause
For decades, women’s midlife experiences have been largely overlooked by medical research. Despite previous assumptions about midlife mental health risks, relatively little research has systematically investigated the connections between hormonal fluctuations and psychological symptoms.This gap in knowledge is particularly concerning given the notable hormonal shifts women experience during perimenopause – the transition to menopause – and emerging evidence suggesting a link to increased mental health challenges.
Now, researchers from Michigan State University’s Department of psychology are examining this understudied period and its potential impacts on mental health thanks to a $3.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, awarded on February 26, 2024 (MSU Today).
The Research Team and Focus
MSU Research Foundation Professor Kelly Klump, Associate Professor Katharine Thakkar, and Research Specialist Kristen Culbert are conducting the study. This research is the first to comprehensively examine how hormonal changes during midlife might influence psychosis, as well as other mental health outcomes like bipolar disorder.
“There’s been a noticeable absence of research in this area,” said Culbert, the study’s co-principal investigator. “We have known there is a midlife spike in psychosis in women that is not observed in men,and we need to understand why.”
The study will leverage longitudinal data and hormonal assessments to identify specific hormonal patterns associated with increased risk for mental health conditions. Researchers will also investigate potential biological mechanisms linking hormonal changes to brain function and psychological symptoms.
Why This Research is Crucial
The timing of this research is particularly important. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) estimates that approximately 6,000 women reach menopause each day in the United States (NAMS). Understanding the interplay between hormonal changes and mental health during