A Gene for Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD?

I’ve often wondered why some people are tormented by anxiety and depression while others are not, and how having parents with similar afflictions seems to translate into higher incidence among family members.

Phillip M. Newton, Ph.D., writing in Psychology Today, takes a look at the science behind FK506 binding protein number 5, which might hold the genetic explanation that’s long been assumed.

FKBP5 is part of the body’s stress-sensing system, and this system responds to stress by releasing the hormone cortisol which drives the biological response to stress stimulus. If the FKBP5 gene is slightly altered from person to person, that might explain the hyper-reactive response common to anxiety and PTSD sufferers.

Certainly, slight variations in the FKBP5 gene could account for part of our problem, but what about environmental factors – the other half of the nature vs. nuture formula?

Research around FKBP5 specifically has shown that history of child abuse shows correlation to later development of PTSD. From the article:

Researchers at Emory University, led by Kerry Ressler M.D. Ph.D, have identified four variants of the FKBP5 gene that are more commonly found in people who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. Many unfortunate factors contribute toward the development of posttraumatic stress disorder, with a history of child abuse being one of the most significant. Importantly, the genetic variants of FKBP5 are found in PTSD patients with a history of child abuse, but not PTSD patients who do not have a history of child abuse, suggesting a gene- environment interaction during childhood that can predict the development of posttraumatic stress disorder.

As more research develops on the genetic make-up of anxiety disorders, perhaps we’ll see the resulting data used as part of a gene-therapy approach to treatment in the coming years.

Childhood Anxiety Can Start Early

As an adult with anxiety challenges, I’ve often wondered at what point in my life I climbed aboard the anxiety train.

A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry posits that up to 15% of preschool children may have “atypically high depression and anxiety levels”, a number that I find statistically significant and somewhat surprising.

What wasn’t surprising was the genetic aspect of childhood anxiety documented. Children with high levels of anxiety and depression are more likely to have mothers who suffer from depression.

The study revealed that children as young as a year old demonstrate indications of higher risk. Given how quickly kids develop in that first year, it makes sense to think that the genetic similarities might come into play, but for me, it raises questions around environmental factors too.

The concept of preventative intervention in very young children with significant risk factors might be a good way to address core issues before they have a chance to lead to atypical behaviors and suffering. It will be interesting to see where the research eventually leads.

Anxiety Insights link