Authors: Sarah Wilker; Vanja Vukojevic; Anna Schneider; Anett Pfeiffer; Stefan Inerle; Markus Pauly; Thomas Elbert; Andreas Papassotiropoulos; Dominique de Quervain; Iris-Tatjana Kolassa · Research
Can DNA Changes Help Predict PTSD Treatment Success?
New research reveals how chemical changes to DNA may help predict who will respond best to PTSD therapy
Source: Wilker, S., Vukojevic, V., Schneider, A., Pfeiffer, A., Inerle, S., Pauly, M., Elbert, T., Papassotiropoulos, A., de Quervain, D., & Kolassa, I. T. (2023). Epigenetics of traumatic stress: The association of NR3C1 methylation and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom changes in response to narrative exposure therapy. Translational Psychiatry, 13(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02316-6
What you need to know
- Chemical modifications to DNA (called epigenetic changes) may help predict who will respond best to trauma therapy
- People who improved with therapy showed different patterns of DNA modification compared to those who didn’t improve
- Lower levels of DNA modification before treatment predicted better treatment outcomes
The Power of Prediction in Trauma Treatment
Imagine being able to predict whether someone will respond well to therapy before they even begin treatment. For people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this could be game-changing. While effective treatments exist, they don’t work equally well for everyone. Now, exciting new research suggests that looking at chemical changes to our DNA might help identify who will benefit most from trauma therapy.
Understanding Epigenetics and Stress
Our genes contain instructions for how our bodies function, but these instructions can be modified by our experiences through a process called epigenetics. Think of it like a dimmer switch for genes - epigenetic changes can turn gene activity up or down without changing the underlying DNA sequence. One important type of epigenetic change is called methylation, which typically reduces gene activity.
This study focused on methylation of a gene called NR3C1, which helps regulate our stress response. This gene produces receptors for stress hormones called glucocorticoids. When working properly, these receptors help us recover from stressful situations. But trauma can disrupt this system, potentially contributing to PTSD.
The Study and Its Findings
Researchers studied 153 trauma survivors from Northern Uganda who received a type of therapy called Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). They collected DNA samples from participants’ saliva before treatment, 4 months after treatment, and 10 months after treatment.
The results revealed fascinating patterns. People who responded well to therapy (about 78% of participants) showed distinct changes in DNA methylation compared to those who didn’t improve. Specifically, they had lower methylation of the NR3C1 gene before starting therapy, and their methylation levels increased as their PTSD symptoms improved.
The Biology Behind the Results
Why might these DNA changes matter? The researchers found evidence suggesting that changes in NR3C1 methylation could affect how much of the stress hormone receptor is produced. This could influence how well people process and recover from traumatic memories during therapy.
What This Means for You
While this research is still in early stages, it suggests several important implications:
- If you’re seeking treatment for PTSD, remember that different people respond differently to therapy - this isn’t your fault, but may be related to biological factors
- Future treatments might be more personalized based on your biological profile
- Scientists are getting closer to understanding why some people recover more easily from trauma than others
Conclusions
- DNA methylation patterns could potentially be used to predict who will respond best to trauma therapy
- Treatment success appears linked to specific patterns of epigenetic change
- This research brings us closer to personalized treatment approaches for PTSD