Perimenstrual Symptoms and Emotional Dysregulation in Autism

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT06871345

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France90 enrolled

Overview

Emotional dysregulation (ED) is defined by difficulties in modulating the experience and expression of emotions, which are characterized by particularly marked reactivity, intensity, and duration. To improve the understanding of ED, its consequences in autistic women, and to be able to offer them appropriate treatments, it seems crucial to investigate the links between ED, known adversities during childhood, and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms. This study aims to characterize the variability of ED throughout a menstrual cycle by measuring it in an ecological real-life context. The variability of ED will be compared to that of women with borderline personality disorder (BPD), women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and women without a diagnosed disorder.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder BPD a Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria: Common Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Patients and Volunteers: * Female aged 18 to 45; * Woman with regular menstrual cycles (variations in duration, measured between the shortest menstrual cycle) and the longest cycle, remain strictly less than 7 days) between 25 and 35 days; * Woman without hormonal contraception (or NON-hormonal copper IUD) or who has stopped contraception for more than 3 months (and does not wish to take it again); * Woman with a smartphone with an internet connection; * Woman able to understand the objectives and risks of the research and to give informed, dated and signed consent; * Woman affiliated to a social protection health insurance scheme, beneficiary or beneficiary. Patient-specific inclusion criteria: * Specific inclusion criteria for female patients * Patient with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder without intellectual disability (ASD), according to DSM-5 criteria OR * Patient with a diagnosis of BPD, according to DSM-5 criteria OR * Patient meeting the diagnostic criteria for PMDD with the SCID Exclusion criteria: Non-inclusion criteria common to healthy patients and volunteers: * Taking hormonal treatment or synthetic steroids; * Woman using hormonal contraceptives (pill, patch, hormonal IUD, vaginal ring, implant, intramuscular injection); * Pregnancy or breastfeeding on the declaration of the person for less than 3 months; * Desire to become pregnant within 3 months of inclusion; * Endocrinopathies (in particular clinical signs of hyperandrogenism) or untreated gynaecological pathologies that may influence menstrual cycles and/or ovulation; * Participation in another study that may interfere with the study; * Inability to give the person informed information (person in an emergency or life-threatening situation); * Woman under judicial protection; * Woman under guardianship or curatorship; * Woman hospitalized for a period \> 24 hours Patient-specific non-inclusion criteria: * Patient with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder; * Patient with a diagnosis of severe substance use disorder, i.e., presence of 6 or more symptoms; * Patient with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I or II or cyclothymia; * Patient with a diagnosis of co-occurring ASD and BPD; * Patient with an intellectual disability (IQ ≤ 70); * Patient with neurological comorbidity (e.g., acquired brain injury); * Patient on treatment that alters physiological response (heart rhythm, e.g., beta-blockers). Non-inclusion criteria specific to healthy volunteers: \- Woman with a psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, or neurological history;

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

The links between emotional dysregulation and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms in autistic women compared to women with borderline personality disorder, women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder compared to women without a diagnosed psychiatr

Comparison between groups (autistic people, people with BPD, people with PMDD, people without disorder) of the intensity of EA assessed using self-questionnaires according to the phase of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase, luteal phase, and late luteal phase)

Time frame: 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

The impact of the menstrual cycle on emotional manifestations

Correlation and mediation between scores on scales regarding emotional dysregulation (DERS-16, BEDS, TAS-20, FREE), childhood adversities (CTQ), and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms (PSST, DRSP)

Time frame: 3 months

The impact of the menstrual cycle on cognitive manifestations

Correlation and mediation between scores on scales regarding emotional dysregulation (DERS-16, BEDS, TAS-20, FREE), childhood adversities (CTQ), and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms (PSST, DRSP)

Time frame: 3 months

The impact of the menstrual cycle on behavioral manifestations

Correlation and mediation between scores on scales regarding emotional dysregulation (DERS-16, BEDS, TAS-20, FREE), childhood adversities (CTQ), and premenstrual dysphoric symptoms (PSST, DRSP)

Time frame: 3 months

Subjective differences in real-life emotional experience between ASD, BPD, PMDD and healthy volunteers

Premenstrual dysphoric symptoms scores

Time frame: 3 months

Cognitive correlates of emotional dysregulation by phase of the menstrual cycle

Comparison of scores obtained on scales assessing emotional dysregulation (DERS-16, BEDS, TAS-20, FREE), borderline traits (BSL-23), autistic traits (AQ), anxious traits (EDAS-21), and depressive traits (EDAS-21, BDI) in the follicular phase and in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle;

Time frame: 3 months

The concordance between subjective and cognitive measures of emotional dysregulation, assessed in daily life, in ASD, BPD, PMDD and healthy volunteers

Comparison of the frequency, intensity, and variability of emotional responses recorded in real-life contexts (ecological momentary assessment - EMA) according to the phase of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase, luteal phase, and late luteal phase)

Time frame: 3 months

Evaluate the intensity of dysphoric symptoms during two menstrual cycles