![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maria3667 on January 2, 2009, at 5:26:10
Earthquakes have aftershocks - not just the geological kind but the mental kind as well. Just like veterans of war, earthquake survivors can experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.
In 1988, a massive earthquake in Armenia killed 17,000 people and destroyed nearly half the town of Gumri. Now, in the first multigenerational study of its kind, UCLA researchers studying survivors of that catastrophe have discovered that vulnerability to PTSD, anxiety and depression runs in families.
Armen Goenjian, a research psychiatrist in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and colleagues studied 200 participants from 12 multigenerational families exposed to the earthquake. Participants suffered from varying degrees of the disorders. The researchers found that 41 percent of the variation of PTSD symptoms was due to genetic factors and that 61 percent of the variation of depressive symptoms and 66 percent of anxiety symptoms were attributable to genetics. Further, they found that a large proportion of the genetic liabilities for the disorders were shared.
The research appears in the December issue of the journal Psychiatric Genetics.
"This was a study of multigenerational family members - parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, and so on - and we found that the genetic makeup of some of these individuals renders them more vulnerable to develop PTSD, anxiety and depressive symptoms," said Goenjian, a member of the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and lead author of the study.
In addition, Goenjian noted, the study suggests that a large percentage of genes are shared between the disorders.
"That tracks with clinical experience," he said. "For example, in clinical practice, the therapist will often discover that patients who come in for treatment of depression have coexisting anxiety. Our findings show that a substantial portion of the coexistence can be explained on the basis of shared genes and not just environmental factors such as upbringing."
The researchers used statistical methods to assess heritabilities. One method was used to determine the genetic component of a disorder such as PTSD. Then, a separate analysis was used to see if different phenotypes shared genes. The results showed that a significant amount of genes are shared between PTSD and depression, PTSD and anxiety, and finally depression and anxiety.
Until now, Goenjian said, the only studies that have suggested such a heritability of PTSD have been twin studies.
"It's very hard to do family studies on PTSD because typically only single individuals, not whole families, are exposed to a particular trauma," he said. "In our study, we were able to avert this problem since all the subjects were exposed to the same severe trauma at the same time."
In fact, he said, the 200 participants all saw destroyed buildings throughout Gumri, 90 percent witnessed dead bodies left lying in the streets and 92 percent witnessed severely injured people.
The findings are promising for the next step in understanding the underlying biology of these disorders, which is locating the specific genes involved, Goenjian said.
----------------------------
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
----------------------------Other authors on the paper included Julia N. Bailey, Ida S. Karayana, Ernest P. Noble and Terry Ritchie, all of UCLA; David P. Walling from the Collaborative Neuroscience Network; and Haig A. Goenjian from the Tulane University School of Medicine.
Funding for the study was provided by the Collaborative Neuroscience Network. The researchers report no conflicts of interest.
The UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences within the David Geffen School of Medicine is home to faculty who are experts in the origins of and treatments for disorders of complex human behavior. The department is part of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, a world-leading interdisciplinary research and education institute devoted to the understanding of complex human behavior and the causes and consequences of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Source: Mark Wheeler
University of California - Los Angeles
Posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2009, at 12:17:27
In reply to Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression, posted by Maria3667 on January 2, 2009, at 5:26:10
My first dx PTSD from childhood said pdoc hence the anxiety. Mother, Father, Son From Desert Storm, Grandson all some form of PTSD. I startle with the slightest sound. So what meds are they using or suggesting? Love Phillipa
Posted by Maria3667 on January 4, 2009, at 14:26:28
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression » Maria3667, posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2009, at 12:17:27
Hi Phillipa,
Don't know. In the article they don't suggest any. I don't think there's a 'one shoe fits all'- remedy.
I've also got PTSD and the best for me was Amitryptiline ---- until Sjogren's Syndrome kicked in.
Love,
Maria> My first dx PTSD from childhood said pdoc hence the anxiety. Mother, Father, Son From Desert Storm, Grandson all some form of PTSD. I startle with the slightest sound. So what meds are they using or suggesting? Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on January 4, 2009, at 19:23:31
In reply to Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression, posted by Maria3667 on January 2, 2009, at 5:26:10
Anxiety might be the intermediary between trauma, PTSD, and depression. That doesn't necessarily follow from common sense. Someone can develop depression as the result of chronic anxiety - PTSD for example. Anxiety often precedes depression in adolescents. To make matters more confusing, severe anxiety is often a symptom of depression in the absence of anxiety disorders. This anxiety, like a positive-feedback loop, can reinforce the depression or PTSD and make them worse and less amenable to treatment. It is therefore important to be as aggressive in treating the anxiety as it is the depression. Treatment can be psychological and/or biological. If the anxiety remains after the depression remits, the likelihood of suffering a relapse is increased.
The common denominator here is anxiety. However, the thread that runs through the fabric of these phenomena is genetic or epigenetic vulnerability. An example of a genetic contribution would be the presence of homozygotic short alleles for the serotonin transporter. Examples of epigenetic contributions would be things like head trauma, stroke, or drug exposure. It is not always easy to determine hereditability. People within family units often learn dysfunctional behaviors as they are passed down generation to generation. The chronic stress placed on the individual from these family dynamics can act as primer for a pathological reaction to trauma. Nature versus nurture? The line to be drawn here is tenuous at best, to be sure. This is why a multimodal treatment structure is sometimes necessary to reach therapeutic goals. One must treat both the brain and the mind. Treating the mind effectively results in long lasting changes in the brain. Treating the brain effectively results in long lasting improvements in the functional dynamics of the mind.
I have absolutely no idea why I rambled here. I could have been watching football.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2009, at 20:21:49
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression, posted by SLS on January 4, 2009, at 19:23:31
Scott practicing your typing skills? Just kidding my Son took an ad short time and occasional ativan and now so busy working with VA all over the country he needs no meds. Boredom as being blind robbed him of independance transportation wise. Important to a male. At least biological family of his. Phillipa
Posted by antigua3 on January 19, 2009, at 22:01:56
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression, posted by SLS on January 4, 2009, at 19:23:31
>>If the anxiety remains after the depression remits, the likelihood of suffering a relapse is increased.>>
Why do you say this? Just curious because I'm finally off my anti-depressant med, but the anxiety remains.
antigua
Posted by SLS on January 20, 2009, at 7:42:33
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression » SLS, posted by antigua3 on January 19, 2009, at 22:01:56
> >>If the anxiety remains after the depression remits, the likelihood of suffering a relapse is increased.>>
>
> Why do you say this? Just curious because I'm finally off my anti-depressant med, but the anxiety remains.It is in the literature. Also, my doctor sees this all the time in his practice.
Anxiety, if nothing else, stresses the brain, indeed the whole body. It attacks the weakest link. For you, this might be dysregulations that foster depression.
Depression CAN produce anxiety.
Anxiety CAN produce depression.CAN. Not guaranteed.
There are several reasons why you might want to reduce your anxiety level. If for no other reason, it must be a miserable experience. Try CBT or some other psychological technique if you don't want to go back on medication. Maybe combined with exercise. L-theonine? Magnesium? Try to ask about anxiety on the "Alternative" board.
In adolescents, anxiety almost always precedes depression.
- Scott
Posted by antigua3 on January 20, 2009, at 12:58:43
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression » antigua3, posted by SLS on January 20, 2009, at 7:42:33
Participating in CBT therapy and exercising, so that's two!
Hope it doesn't come back for a while. I'm working on that anxiety/agitation though, and I do know they are different things. I'm on Lyrica for the agitation, but think sometimes it creates it. Also, sometimes I think, "this is who I am, anxiety and agitation and all," and for now I'm going to try to find a way to deal w/it as best I can w/o going on something new right now.
thanks,
antigua
Posted by SLS on January 20, 2009, at 13:32:53
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression » SLS, posted by antigua3 on January 20, 2009, at 12:58:43
> Participating in CBT therapy and exercising, so that's two!
>
> Hope it doesn't come back for a while. I'm working on that anxiety/agitation though, and I do know they are different things. I'm on Lyrica for the agitation, but think sometimes it creates it. Also, sometimes I think, "this is who I am, anxiety and agitation and all," and for now I'm going to try to find a way to deal w/it as best I can w/o going on something new right now.
> thanks,
> antigua
>I'm in your corner. If you can avoid taking an antidepressant, why take one!
Look into L-theanine. A friend of mine with treatment-resistant depression/anxiety finds it very effective against the anxiety. I wish I had more tools for you to use. I think the most critical aspect to treating anxiety is to understand what is the most likely cause. If you can't account for it psychologically or situationally, you may have to start thinking Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Maybe have your thyroid checked?
Differences between GAD and PTSD:
http://gad.about.com/od/symptoms/a/ptsd.htm
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2009, at 19:09:43
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression » antigua3, posted by SLS on January 20, 2009, at 13:32:53
Definitely get thyroid tested as when mine went anxiety got much worse. Initially had panic since 20's triggered by a circumstance cheating in a marriage. At least this is what I think caused the painic? Love Phillpa
Posted by antigua3 on January 20, 2009, at 19:14:41
In reply to Re: Genetic connection PTSD, anxiety + depression » antigua3, posted by SLS on January 20, 2009, at 13:32:53
I'm pretty sure I suffer from both, which means the anxiety is with me always, unless I'm medicated, and even then, that doesn't always work!There are always prices to pay, things to balance.Again, thanks for the recommendations,
antigua
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.