Polygenic risk for mental disorders as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder after mild traumatic brain injury

Translational Psychiatry, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02313-9 · Published: January 6, 2023

Simple Explanation

This study explores the genetic risk factors for PTSD following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It uses polygenic risk scores (PRS) to assess the genetic liability for PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and neuroticism (NEU). The aim was to determine if these genetic predispositions increase the likelihood of developing PTSD after mTBI. The study found that individuals with a higher PTSD-PRS had a significantly greater risk of developing PTSD after mTBI. This suggests that genetic factors play a role in the development of PTSD following such injuries. The PTSD-PRS was more predictive than MDD-PRS or NEU-PRS. The findings suggest that PRS could potentially be used to identify individuals at higher risk for PTSD after mTBI. This could allow for early intervention and enhanced follow-up, potentially improving outcomes for those at risk. This approach could personalize treatment strategies based on genetic risk.

Study Duration

2/26/2014 through 8/08/2018

Participants

714 individuals of European ancestry with mTBI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The PTSD-PRS was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTSD at 6 months post-mTBI.
2
Individuals in the highest quintile of PTSD-PRS had nearly four times the odds of developing PTSD compared to those in the lowest quintile.
3
Adding PTSD-PRS to a model with other risk factors significantly increased the variance explained in PTSD outcome.

Research Summary

This study investigated the role of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and neuroticism (NEU) in predicting the development of PTSD following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The study utilized data from the TRACK-TBI study, a prospective longitudinal study of patients with mTBI. The results showed that a higher PTSD-PRS was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing PTSD at 6 months post-mTBI. This association remained significant even after adjusting for other known risk factors such as age, sex, pre-injury history of mental disorder, and cause of injury. The study suggests that PTSD-PRS could potentially be used as a tool to identify individuals at higher risk for PTSD following mTBI, allowing for targeted interventions and improved outcomes. However, further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the clinical utility of PRS in this context.

Practical Implications

Personalized Risk Assessment

Polygenic risk scores could be incorporated into risk assessment tools to identify individuals at high risk of developing PTSD after mTBI.

Targeted Interventions

Individuals identified as high-risk based on their PRS could be targeted for early interventions, such as increased monitoring and psychological support.

Future Research Directions

Further research is needed to validate the clinical utility of PRS in predicting PTSD after mTBI and to explore its potential in diverse populations.

Study Limitations

1
The study was limited to adults and adolescents age 17 and older.
2
The study relied on self-reports of prior history of psychiatric illness.
3
The study was also limited by the availability of external PRS only for individuals of European ancestry

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