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Abstract:
A deeper understanding of the pathomechanisms leading to stress-related
psychiatric disorders is important for the development of more efficient
preventive and therapeutic strategies. Epidemiological studies indicate
a combined contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the risk
for disease. The environment, particularly early life severe stress or
trauma, can lead to lifelong molecular changes in the form of epigenetic
modifications that can set the organism off on trajectories to health or
disease. Epigenetic modifications are capable of shaping and storing the
molecular response of a cell to its environment as a function of genetic
predisposition. This provides a potential mechanism for gene-environment
interactions. Here, we review epigenetic mechanisms associated with the
response to stress and trauma exposure and the development of
stress-related psychiatric disorders. We also look at how they may
contribute to our understanding of the combined effects of genetic and
environmental factors in shaping disease risk.
