A Baseline Model of PTSD From the ACES Cohort

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Genetics
• Military Health

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant military psychiatric condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene variants are implicated in PTSD risk.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for developing effective risk assessment and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate polygenic scores for PTSD risk within a cohort of military service members.
• To examine the role of environmental influences and demographic factors in modifying genetic predisposition to PTSD.
• To identify risk factors associated with PTSD development in a military population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 291 active duty service members from the ACEs transporter study was analyzed.
• Exclusion criteria included traumatic brain injury, pre-deployment PTSD/anxiety, and pre-deployment psychoactive medication use.
• Linear and logistic regressions were used to model PTSD risk and associated polygenic scores.

Main Results:

• The study cohort comprised 79.1% males, with a mean age of 38.3 years and multi-ancestry.
• PTSD diagnosis was associated with higher scores in ACEs, combat exposure, PTSD Checklist (PCL-M), and sleep/insomnia indices.
• A positive correlation was observed between age, deployment duration, ACEs, combat exposure, and PTSD diagnosis, though this relationship varied in older individuals.

Conclusions:

• Demographic and environmental factors within the ACEs cohort provide a framework for evaluating polygenic risk scores for PTSD.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between PTSD, genetic factors, and confounding variables like deployment and combat exposure.