Genetics of childhood trauma
- added June 24, 2008
- 4 responses
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- goldenways
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Can genes protect abused children from future emotional turmoil?
Have you ever wondered why some people are so much more resilient than others? Why some can bounce back from trauma, whereas others are doomed to a lifetime of depression and other mental angst? A new study indicates that genes may have something (read: a lot) to do with it. Researchers report in the Archives of General Psychiatry that children who are physically and emotionally abused but have the most protective variant of CRHR1, a gene that controls the body's response to stress hormones, are less likely to suffer depression as adults. The finding could pave the way for new antidepression therapies, says lead study author Kerry Ressler, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine's Center for Behavioral Neuroscience. "We know that childhood abuse and early-life stress are among the strongest contributors to adult depression, and this study again brings to light the importance of preventing them," Ressler said. "But when these tragic events do occur, studies like this one ultimately can help us learn how we might be able to better intervene against the pathology that often follows." (Archives of General Psychiatry)
Have you ever wondered why some people are so much more resilient than others? Why some can bounce back from trauma, whereas others are doomed to a lifetime of depression and other mental angst? A new study indicates that genes may have something (read: a lot) to do with it. Researchers report in the Archives of General Psychiatry that children who are physically and emotionally abused but have the most protective variant of CRHR1, a gene that controls the body's response to stress hormones, are less likely to suffer depression as adults. The finding could pave the way for new antidepression therapies, says lead study author Kerry Ressler, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine's Center for Behavioral Neuroscience. "We know that childhood abuse and early-life stress are among the strongest contributors to adult depression, and this study again brings to light the importance of preventing them," Ressler said. "But when these tragic events do occur, studies like this one ultimately can help us learn how we might be able to better intervene against the pathology that often follows." (Archives of General Psychiatry)
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- goldenways
- 3 months ago
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I hope every parent that has access to this site looks at this information. Thanks.
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will it be long b4 science can figure out how 2 get this gene replicated so it can b used by those who need it?
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Taking this just a step further it begs the understanding that we as people need to understand more of the dynamics of what we are made of; generally speaking when the comment of being characteristically as having the same traits of our ancestors, we carry with us the inert makeup of their DNA thereby adding to the mix to put it symplistically. With that in mind, it would seem that our present thinking in the most biological sense would mean that what we think we create! Guess we better be a little bit aware of what we REALLY think sometime! We could hurt future generations! WHEW!
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I wonder how they explain chronic depression in adults who were never abused as children?
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