Genetic markers connected to the regulation of the immune system, has recently been recognized as having association with a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This research was carried out on 124 male US marines whose blood sample was tested before their deployment and then once again upon their return after 3 months to identify the disorder.
Such a discovery calls for identifying a new diagnostic method along with new medication. This would also call for the requirement for foreseeing the individuals who has more exposure to the risks associated with PTSD.
It has been assessed that about 6.8% of Americans will suffer from PTSD at some point in their lives. The symptoms would include troubled memories, extreme tension and sleeping tension and when it reaches a severe level you may note signs and contemplations of self-destructive behavior. Senior author Michael S. Breen from the University of Southampton discussed this in details by relating to US Marines who did develop PTSD to the ones who did not.
It was apparent from this comparison that the dissimilarities in genes could be calculated while keeping in mind the dynamic relationship that exists between them which explain their association. Given the fact that PTSD has always been seen as complex disorder, the measurement of its dynamic relation would offer some more depth to the subject of PTSD pathology.
A fascinating fact is that before and after the PSTD development, scientists were able to identify 2 groups of genes. One of them was innate immune system while the other was interferon signaling. A lot of questions were raised regarding the fact that ticked off interferon signals before PSTD.
Dr. Dewleen G. Baker, the principal investigator said that this is the outcome of a number of factors including heightened anticipatory stress prior to the deployment of the marines. He further described that this is possibly a result of rough circumstances of people with bigger loads.
Nonetheless, the researchers still felt the importance of having a comparative methodology for examining the differentiated hereditary indicators of post-traumatic stress disorder