Psychological trauma and the genetic overlap between posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are commonly reported co-occurring mental health consequences of psychological trauma exposure. The disorders have high genetic overlap. Trauma is a complex phenotype but research suggests that trauma sensitivity has a heritable basis. We investigated whether sensitivity to trauma in those with MDD reflects a similar genetic component in those with PTSD.

Methods

Genetic correlations between PTSD and MDD in individuals reporting trauma and MDD in individuals not reporting trauma were estimated, as well as with recurrent MDD and single-episode MDD, using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. Genetic correlations were replicated using PTSD data from the Psychiatric Genomics Co

SUBMITTER: Mundy J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8962503 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature