The role of epigenetics in anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders (ADs) are extremely common psychiatric conditions that frequently co-occur with other physical and mental disorders. The pathophysiology of ADs is multifaceted and involves intricate connections among biological elements, environmental stimuli, and psychological mechanisms. Recent discoveries have highlighted the significance of epigenetics in bridging the gap between multiple risk factors that contribute to ADs and expanding our understanding of the pathomechanisms underlying ADs. Epigenetics is the study of how changes in the environment and behavior can have an impact on gene function. Indeed, researchers have found that epigenetic mechanisms can affect how genes are activated or inactivated, as well as whether they are expressed. Such mechanisms may also affect how ADs form and are protected. That is, the bulk of pharmacological trials evaluating epigenetic treatments for the treatment of ADs have used histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), yielding promising outcomes in both preclinical and clinical studies. This review will provide an outline of how epigenetic pathways can be used to treat ADs or lessen their risk. It will also present the findings from preclinical and clinical trials that are currently available on the use of epigenetic drugs to treat ADs.