PTSD: Research on genes and the implications for possible better treatment

What is PTSD? PTSD is known more formally as post-traumatic stress disorder and is a disorder in which a person has extreme difficulty recovering mentally after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. People most often associate PTSD with military veterans but as scientists are delving deeper into the realm of trauma, they are finding that far more people are having symptoms of PTSD than just military veterans. To diagnose PTSD, a psychiatrist has to determine that the person meets a certain criteria. Many don't meet this but suffer from a number of the symptoms. The criteria they are finding, may not be as black and white as they originally thought as many are living with what acts and feels like PTSD. Whether or not PTSD by the criteria at the moment is developed depends on life experiences, behavior and more interestingly, genes.  

Researchers are contemplating the implications oft variations in genes can play a role in how one may respond to a trauma or even more exciting, can make them more susceptible to developing PTSD. One variation is on a particular gene called FKBP5. It has been correlated to the development of PTSD. There is also a related protein that is involved in the body’s response to stress. Irregular function of this associated protein,will affect ones tress response. With this in mind, they have also found that this is correlated with severity and even just development of PTSD. 

Though we are finding knew information on PTSD everyday, the citeria for having PTSD is not changing. This is an issue because in order to be treated correctly, a diagnosis is necessary. This is especially relevant for victims of sexual assault. With more and more research coming to light, it is the hope that there will be a change. 

Binder EB. The role of FKBP5, a co-chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor in the pathogenesis and therapy of affective and anxiety disorders. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2009; 34(Suppl 1):S186– S195. [PubMed: 19560279] 

 Nugent NR, Amstadter AB, Koenen KC (2008): Genetics of post-traumatic stress disorder: Informing clinical conceptualizations and promoting future research. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 148:127– 132