Dynamic Relationships Between Estrogen Fluctuations, Sleep, and Psychiatric Complexity Among Adolescent Females With ADHD (DREAMS)

September 4, 2026 updated by: Duke University

Dynamic Relationships Between Estrogen Fluctuations, Sleep, and Psychiatric Complexity Among Adolescent Females With ADHD: A Pilot Study

The purpose of the study is to establish the feasibility of collecting E2, Garmin-measured sleep, and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of ADHD and related symptoms (mood, anxiety, executive functioning) across menstrual cycles among 20 peripubertal female adolescents aged 11-15 with ADHD, and to explore links between within-individual E2 variability, sleep, and EMA-derived outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

The overall objective is to establish the feasibility of collecting estradiol (E2), Garmin-measured sleep, and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of ADHD and related symptoms (mood, anxiety, executive functioning) among adolescent females with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and explore the links between within-individual E2 variability and EMA-derived outcomes, across menstrual cycles in this population. We aim to establish sufficient pilot data to support a R01 proposal focused on characterizing relationships between E2 across the menstrual cycle, sleep, ADHD symptoms, and related symptomatology in adolescent females with ADHD. Participants will complete an initial screening visit answering questionnaires related to puberty, ADHD, and sleep to establish eligibility. After completing a device training session, we will ask participants to provide daily urine E2 samples and EMA brief assessments of ADHD and related clinical features (i.e., mood, executive functioning, sleep) over 2 menstrual cycles (~56 days). Sleep will be assessed continuously over the study period via convenient wearable (Garmin watch). Feasibility of protocol will be assessed as days of successful E2 data collection, EMA completion, and Garmin wear. Feasibility benchmark=80% actual/anticipated data collection. Multilevel modeling will explore the relationship between within-person changes in E2, ADHD symptoms and related clinical outcomes, and whether sleep strengthens (moderates) these relationships.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Female adolescents ages 11-15 with ADHD in the Duke University Health System

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female;
  • Ages 11-15;
  • Within 2 years of first menstrual cycle (menarche);
  • Parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and T score ≥65 on Inattention and/or Hyperactivity/Impulsivity via Conners
  • Access to internet and smartphone device with capacity to download the intervention App (iOS and Android);

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Reported psychotic or bipolar disorder, sleep apnea, or restless leg syndrome;
  • Current suicidality/self-harm;
  • Plans to initiate/change psychotropic or sleep medications during participation

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Adolescent Females with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Participants will complete an initial screening visit answering questionnaires related to puberty, ADHD, and sleep to establish eligibility. After completing a device training session, participants will be asked to provide daily urine E2 samples and EMA brief assessments of ADHD and related clinical features (i.e., mood, executive functioning, sleep) over 2 menstrual cycles (~56 days).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility of Collecting Estradiol (E2)
Time Frame: 56 Days
The percentage of actual E2 data collected compared to anticipated E2 data collected
56 Days
Feasibility of Collecting Garmin Data
Time Frame: 56 Days
The percentage of actual Garmin data collected compared to anticipated Garmin data collected
56 Days
Feasibility of Collecting Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA)
Time Frame: 56 Days
The percentage of actual EMA data collected compared to anticipated EMA data collected
56 Days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Duke University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jessica Lusnford-Avery, Ph.D., Duke University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Pro00120484

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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