Abstract
Background
Epigenetic mechanisms play a role in the detrimental effects of traumatic stress and the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, there has been less attention whether successful treatment of PTSD can alter these epigenetic changes related to PTSD. This study therefore investigated longitudinal changes of blood-based genome-wide DNA methylation levels in relation to treatment outcomes of PTSD.
Methods
Longitudinal changes of blood-based genome-wide DNA methylation levels were analyzed in relation to treatment outcomes of PTSD in soldiers with remission of PTSD (N=21), non-responding PTSD patients (N=23), and a trauma-exposed military control group (N=23). All PTSD patients received trauma-focused psychotherapy. Replication was sought in an independent sample with recovery of deployment-related PTSD symptoms as outcome.
Results
The successful treatment of PTSD was accompanied by changes in DNA methylation at 12 differentially methylated genomic regions (APOB, MUC4, EDN2, ZFP57, GPX6, CFAP45, AFF3, TP73, UBCLP1, RPL13P, and two intergenic regions). Of these regions, previous longitudinal evidence already strongly implicated ZFP57 methylation to PTSD. Changes in ZFP57 methylation following treatment was over and above the effects of reduced PTSD symptoms and were replicated in an independent cohort.
Conclusions
This is the first study to demonstrate longitudinal changes in DNA methylation related to the effects of psychotherapy for PTSD which go beyond the reduction of symptom severity. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms are involved both in the emergence and successful treatment of stress-related disorders such as PTSD. Psychological and biological systems closely interact, and our results emphasize the need for an integrated view of psychological and biological treatments.
Epigenetic mechanisms play a role in the detrimental effects of traumatic stress and the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, there has been less attention whether successful treatment of PTSD can alter these epigenetic changes related to PTSD. This study therefore investigated longitudinal changes of blood-based genome-wide DNA methylation levels in relation to treatment outcomes of PTSD.
Methods
Longitudinal changes of blood-based genome-wide DNA methylation levels were analyzed in relation to treatment outcomes of PTSD in soldiers with remission of PTSD (N=21), non-responding PTSD patients (N=23), and a trauma-exposed military control group (N=23). All PTSD patients received trauma-focused psychotherapy. Replication was sought in an independent sample with recovery of deployment-related PTSD symptoms as outcome.
Results
The successful treatment of PTSD was accompanied by changes in DNA methylation at 12 differentially methylated genomic regions (APOB, MUC4, EDN2, ZFP57, GPX6, CFAP45, AFF3, TP73, UBCLP1, RPL13P, and two intergenic regions). Of these regions, previous longitudinal evidence already strongly implicated ZFP57 methylation to PTSD. Changes in ZFP57 methylation following treatment was over and above the effects of reduced PTSD symptoms and were replicated in an independent cohort.
Conclusions
This is the first study to demonstrate longitudinal changes in DNA methylation related to the effects of psychotherapy for PTSD which go beyond the reduction of symptom severity. Therefore, epigenetic mechanisms are involved both in the emergence and successful treatment of stress-related disorders such as PTSD. Psychological and biological systems closely interact, and our results emphasize the need for an integrated view of psychological and biological treatments.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S122-S123 |
| Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 May 2019 |
Keywords
- PTSD
- Epigenetics
- Longitudinal Study
- Psychotherapy
- Treatment Outcomes