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Epigenetics in Personality Disorders: Today's Insights
Dorothee Maria Gescher1, Kai G Kahl2, Thomas Hillemacher3
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 5, 2018
Summary
Epigenetic alterations, particularly DNA methylation, are linked to personality disorders (PD). Environmental factors like childhood trauma influence these epigenetic changes, impacting genes crucial for neurodevelopment and potentially aiding future therapeutic interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in various mental disorders.
- The role of epigenetics in personality disorders (PD) is less understood.
- This review focuses on original research investigating epigenetic factors in PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing original data on epigenetic peculiarities in personality disorders.
- To explore the association between epigenetic mechanisms and personality traits/disorders.
- To identify potential epigenetic biomarkers for PD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Searched PubMed using keywords: epigenetic, methylation, acetylation, and PD/trait designations.
- Included 23 original human studies on gene methylation patterns in PD.
Main Results:
- Significant associations found between PD and aberrant gene methylation.
- Environmental factors, especially childhood trauma, impact neurofunctional genes.
- Specific genes (e.g., HTR2A, MAOA) showed altered methylation in BPD and ASPD.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic studies offer insights into PD pathogenesis and risk factor interactions.
- Divergent results highlight the complexity and need for further research.
- Epigenetic patterns may help identify PD subgroups for tailored therapies and early intervention.