Biomarkers in posttraumatic stress disorder: overview and implications for future research

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating anxiety disorder following trauma.
• Currently, no validated biomarkers for PTSD are available for clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and comment on prominent potential biomarkers for PTSD.
• To classify these markers into categories: risk, disease, and therapy markers.
• To provide an overview of current research on PTSD pathobiology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and commentary on existing studies.
• Classification of potential biomarkers based on their role (risk, disease, therapy).
• Analysis of the postulated or demonstrated causal role of markers in PTSD.

Main Results:

• Identified potential biomarkers across imaging, psychological, endocrine, and molecular domains.
• Categorized these markers to delineate their potential clinical utility.
• Summarized evidence for the causal role of markers in PTSD development and progression.

Conclusions:

• Several promising biomarkers for PTSD are under investigation.
• These potential biomarkers could aid in risk assessment, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring.
• Further research into PTSD pathobiology is crucial for biomarker validation and clinical application.