Finding Those AtRisk for PTSD

摘要

Natural disasters, violent crimes and wars are traumatic experiences for anyone to live through, yet some people recover quickly from these events while others struggle with the flashbacks and hypervigilance that characterize post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Why? Part of the reason may have to do with genes that code for the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood and sleep, among other things. In a study of multiple generations of 12 families that survived an earthquake in Armenia, those who developed PTSD were more likely to have gene variants that lowered levels of serotonin, suggesting that a DNA test may someday help identify those at highest risk of developing the disorder.