A Systematic Review of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Studies in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Growth, and Resilience
Abstract
Most people will experience a traumatic event within their lifetime. One commonly recognized response to trauma exposure is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The biological underpinnings of PTSD, including epigenetic mechanisms of DNA methylation and gene expression, have been studied intensively. However, psychological posttrauma responses vary widely and can include positive outcomes, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG) and, more commonly, resilience. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the current DNA methylation and gene expression data with respect to three potential posttrauma responses: PTSD, PTG, and resilience. A literature search identified 486 studies, 51 of which were deemed eligible for inclusion (total N = 10,633). All included studies examined PTSD and consistently implicated DNA methylation and gene expression changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammatory genes. Ten studies acknowledged resilience as a posttrauma response, but only two studies examined epigenetics and gene expression using a scale to measure resilience. Low resilience was associated with gene expression patterns in immune and dopamine genes, and high resilience was associated with a blunted inflammatory response. No studies examined epigenetic or gene expression changes associated with PTG. These findings highlight a focus on pathogenic research, which has failed to adequately acknowledge and measure positive posttrauma outcomes of PTG and resilience. Future…
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Epigenetic disruption has been implicated in cancer, aging, and a range of complex diseases, including psychiatric disorders such as depression and PTSD.
“Epigenetic disruption has been clearly implicated in cancer, aging, and a range of complex diseases, including psychiatric disorders, such as depression [33] and PTSD [34,35].”
This pilot study is the first to examine epigenetic mechanisms underpinning PTG and resilience.
“This is the first study investigating methylation changes in PTG”
From DNA methylation of NR3C1 and FKBP5 is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic growth, and resilience. (2020) · cites this paper as Mehta et al., 2020
Mehta and colleagues' (2020) systematic review identified 51 studies, of which none examined PTG, and only two measured resilience.
“For example, Mehta and colleagues (2020) systematic review of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns associated with positive and negative posttrauma responses identified 51 studies, of which none examined PTG, and only two measured resilience (Azadmarzabadi et al., 2018;Kohrt et al., 2016).”
From DNA methylation of NR3C1 and FKBP5 is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic growth, and resilience. (2020) · cites this paper as Mehta et al., 2020
Research into the biological predictors of posttrauma responses, particularly PTG and resilience, is limited and still developing.
“In contrast, research into the biological predictors of posttrauma responses, particularly PTG and resilience, is limited and still developing (Mehta, Miller, Bruenig, David & Shakespeare-Finch, 2020;Schubert, Schmidt & Rosner, 2016).”
From DNA methylation of NR3C1 and FKBP5 is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic growth, and resilience. (2020) · cites this paper as Mehta et al., 2020
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“Epigenetic disruption has been clearly implicated in cancer, aging, and a range of complex diseases, including psychiatric disorders, such as depression [33] and PTSD [34,35].”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Mehta, D., Miller, O., Bruenig, D., David, G., & Shakespeare‐Finch, J.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Mehta, Divya
- Venue
- Journal of Traumatic Stress
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-01-17
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 171-180
- ISSN
- 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6598
- OpenAlex
- W2967779005
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 0.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic growth, resilience, DNA methylation, gene expression, epigenetics, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammatory genes, immune-related genes, dopamine genes, trauma exposure
- MeSH terms
- Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological, Adaptation, Psychological, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Stress, Physiological, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, DNA Methylation, Resilience, Psychological
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