A new study found that people currently suffering from or at high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder show specific patterns in four biomarkers that can be measured with a simple blood test. The findings suggest that these biomarkers could be used to predict an individual’s likelihood of developing her PTSD, diagnose the disorder, and monitor response to treatment.
PTSD can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is currently diagnosed based on symptoms such as flashbacks, trouble sleeping or concentrating, negative thinking, memory problems, and avoidance of triggering situations. Diagnosing PTSD and assessing changes in response to treatment can be difficult because other disorders can have these same symptoms.
With more than 1,000 military personnel, this study is the largest prospective study to date to evaluate biological markers of PTSD over time.
“This study provides valuable insight into the natural history of PTSD and the effectiveness of interventions, and can inform the development of treatment guidelines and improve care for individuals suffering from PTSD,” said Walter Stacey Ann Miller, a researcher at the Reed Army Research Institute, said the study in Silver Spring, Maryland. “Better methods of predicting or screening for PTSD could help overcome disability by identifying individuals at increased risk of developing PTSD and providing early intervention or prevention strategies. , may reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent the development of the disorder altogether.”
Miller will present new research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, March 25-28 in Seattle.
Biomarkers that reflect biological processes can provide objective measures of physiological changes associated with diseases such as PTSD. For this study, researchers analyzed four biomarkers in blood samples taken from active duty military personnel taken 10 months before deployment, 3 days after return, and 3-6 months after return. The biomarker has previously been associated with stress, depression, anxiety and psychiatric disorders. They include: glycolytic ratio, a measure of how the body breaks down sugars to produce energy. Arginine, an amino acid that plays a role in the immune and cardiovascular systems. Serotonin, a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, sleep, and other functions. Glutamate is a chemical messenger involved in learning and memory.
Researchers divided military personnel into groups based on measures of PTSD and mental resilience and compared four biomarkers between different groups. The participant was classified as PTSD, subthreshold PTSD, or no PTSD according to clinical diagnosis and her PTSD symptoms. Researchers assessed participants’ resilience based on a combination of factors including PTSD, anxiety, sleep quality, alcohol use disorders, combat exposure, traumatic brain injury, and general physical and mental health. have been classified. Previous research has shown that people who were considered less resilient based on these measures were much more likely to develop PTSD after deployment than those who were more resilient.
Comparing these biomarkers in people with different PTSD status and levels of resilience, the results show that people with PTSD or subthreshold PTSD have significantly higher glycolytic ratios and lower arginine than people with high resilience. indicated that PTSD patients had significantly lower serotonin and higher glutamate than those with high resilience. These associations were independent of factors such as gender, age, body mass index, smoking, and caffeine consumption.
Researchers say biomarkers may help predict which individuals are at higher risk for PTSD, improve the accuracy of PTSD diagnosis, and improve our overall understanding of the drivers and impacts of PTSD. said.
“Improved methods of screening and predicting PTSD could inform better treatment approaches by providing a greater understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of the disorder,” said Miller. “This may lead to the development of more targeted and effective treatments for PTSD, or to the identification of specific subtypes of PTSD, which may respond differently to different treatments.” .”
The researchers warn that more research and validation will be needed to confirm the biomarkers’ usefulness in the real world.
Original: Researchers identify markers of PTSD in blood
Than: Walter Reed Army Research Institute
