Recent Genetics and Epigenetics Approaches to PTSD

Overview

Journal Curr Psychiatry Rep

Publisher Current Science

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2018 Apr 7

PMID 29623448

Citations 61

Authors

Nikolaos P Daskalakis

Chuda M Rijal

Christopher King

Laura M Huckins

Kerry J Ressler

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Following a life-threatening traumatic exposure, about 10% of those exposed are at considerable risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe and disabling syndrome characterized by uncontrollable intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, and hyperarousal in addition to impaired cognition and negative emotion symptoms. This review will explore recent genetic and epigenetic approaches to PTSD that explain some of the differential risk following trauma exposure.

Recent Findings: A substantial portion of the variance explaining differential risk responses to trauma exposure may be explained by differential inherited and acquired genetic and epigenetic risk. This biological risk is complemented by alterations in the functional regulation of genes via environmentally induced epigenetic changes, including prior childhood and adult trauma exposure. This review will cover recent findings from large-scale genome-wide association studies as well as newer epigenome-wide studies. We will also discuss future "phenome-wide" studies utilizing electronic medical records as well as targeted genetic studies focusing on mechanistic ways in which specific genetic or epigenetic alterations regulate the biological risk for PTSD.

Citing Articles

Self-compassion, self-coldness, and social support and their relationship with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms following a massive terror attack: a prospective study.

Barel E, Tannous-Haddad L, Tzischinsky O Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2025; 16(1):2461948.

PMID: 39957681 PMC: 11834774. DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2025.2461948.

Epigenome-wide association studies identify novel DNA methylation sites associated with PTSD: a meta-analysis of 23 military and civilian cohorts.

Katrinli S, Wani A, Maihofer A, Ratanatharathorn A, Daskalakis N, Montalvo-Ortiz J Genome Med. 2024; 16(1):147.

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The impact of trauma core dimensions on anxiety and depression: a latent regression model through the Post-Traumatic Symptom Questionnaire (PTSQ).

Rossi A, Panzeri A, Fernandez I, Invernizzi R, Taccini F, Mannarini S Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):23036.

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Mapping Epigenetic Gene Variant Dynamics: Comparative Analysis of Frequency, Functional Impact and Trait Associations in African and European Populations.

Sinkala M, Retshabile G, Mpangase P, Bamba S, Goita M, Nembaware V medRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 39185519 PMC: 11343269. DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.11.24311816.

Epigenome-wide association studies identify novel DNA methylation sites associated with PTSD: A meta-analysis of 23 military and civilian cohorts.

Katrinli S, Wani A, Maihofer A, Ratanatharathorn A, Daskalakis N, Montalvo-Ortiz J medRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 39072012 PMC: 11275670. DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.15.24310422.

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