Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition associated with high rates of chronicity, poor quality of life, and severe functional impairments. Treatments often include non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions with variable success in improving symptoms. Gaining a better understanding of biological mechanisms related to changes in symptoms over the course of treatment is needed to develop future interventions as well as characterize biomarkers of response to help clinicians tailor drug and non-drug treatment strategies to individual patients. Our translational studies will utilize previously collected DNA from completed studies of meditation and group therapy for veterans with PTSD. Participants were assessed with clinical measures of symptom response longitudinally across multiple treatment time points. DNA from blood was collected before and after treatment. Using microarray technologies, we will examine how genetic polymorphisms and methylation predict treatment response and how methylation changes over time in relation to treatment response.

Public Health Relevance

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition for which few patients experience remission of symptoms after treatment. Our studies will identify genetic and epigenetic predictors of treatment response. These findings will help us advance precision medicine approaches to treatment and also better understand molecular mechanisms of symptom improvement.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AT009475-02
Application #
9655295
Study Section
Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Emotion, Stress and Health Study Section (MESH)
Program Officer
Belfer, Inna
Project Start
2018-03-01
Project End
2020-02-29
Budget Start
2019-03-01
Budget End
2020-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455