BACKGROUND: Previous research reveals an association between traumatic stress and an increased risk for numerous diseases, including cancer. At the molecular level, stress may increase carcinogenesis via increased DNA damage and impaired DNA repair mechanisms. We assessed DNA breakage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and measured the cellular capacity to repair single-strand breaks after exposure to ionizing X-radiation. We also investigated the effect of psychotherapy on both DNA breakage and DNA repair. METHODS: In a first study we investigated DNA breakage and repair in 34 individuals with PTSD and 31 controls. Controls were subdivided into 11 trauma-exposed subjects and 20 individuals without trauma exposure. In a second study, we analysed the effect of psychotherapy (Narrative Exposure Therapy) on DNA breakage and repair. Thirty-eight individuals with PTSD were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a waitlist control condition. Follow-up was performed 4 months and 1 year after therapy. RESULTS: In study 1 we found higher levels of basal DNA breakage in individuals with PTSD and trauma-exposed subjects than in controls, indicating that traumatic stress is associated with DNA breakage. However, single-strand break repair was unimpaired in individuals with PTSD. In study 2, we found that psychotherapy reversed not only PTSD symptoms, but also DNA strand break accumulation. CONCLUSION: Our results show - for the first time in vivo - an association between traumatic stress and DNA breakage; they also demonstrate changes at the molecular level, i.e., the integrity of DNA, after psychotherapeutic interventions.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Previous research reveals an association between traumatic stress and an increased risk for numerous diseases, including cancer. At the molecular level, stress may increase carcinogenesis via increased DNA damage and impaired DNA repair mechanisms. We assessed DNA breakage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and measured the cellular capacity to repair single-strand breaks after exposure to ionizing X-radiation. We also investigated the effect of psychotherapy on both DNA breakage and DNA repair. METHODS: In a first study we investigated DNA breakage and repair in 34 individuals with PTSD and 31 controls. Controls were subdivided into 11 trauma-exposed subjects and 20 individuals without trauma exposure. In a second study, we analysed the effect of psychotherapy (Narrative Exposure Therapy) on DNA breakage and repair. Thirty-eight individuals with PTSD were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a waitlist control condition. Follow-up was performed 4 months and 1 year after therapy. RESULTS: In study 1 we found higher levels of basal DNA breakage in individuals with PTSD and trauma-exposed subjects than in controls, indicating that traumatic stress is associated with DNA breakage. However, single-strand break repair was unimpaired in individuals with PTSD. In study 2, we found that psychotherapy reversed not only PTSD symptoms, but also DNA strand break accumulation. CONCLUSION: Our results show - for the first time in vivo - an association between traumatic stress and DNA breakage; they also demonstrate changes at the molecular level, i.e., the integrity of DNA, after psychotherapeutic interventions.
Authors: Bryant C Nelson; Christa W Wright; Yuko Ibuki; Maria Moreno-Villanueva; Hanna L Karlsson; Giel Hendriks; Christopher M Sims; Neenu Singh; Shareen H Doak Journal: Mutagenesis Date: 2016-08-26 Impact factor: 3.000
Authors: Johann R Kleinbub; Arianna Palmieri; Alice Broggio; Francesco Pagnini; Enrico Benelli; Marco Sambin; Gianni Sorarù Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2015-06-16
Authors: M Moreno-Villanueva; J Morath; V Vanhooren; T Elbert; S Kolassa; C Libert; A Bürkle; I-T Kolassa Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2013-10-29 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Robert Keers; Jonathan R I Coleman; Kathryn J Lester; Susanna Roberts; Gerome Breen; Mikael Thastum; Susan Bögels; Silvia Schneider; Einar Heiervang; Richard Meiser-Stedman; Maaike Nauta; Cathy Creswell; Kerstin Thirlwall; Ronald M Rapee; Jennifer L Hudson; Cathryn Lewis; Robert Plomin; Thalia C Eley Journal: Psychother Psychosom Date: 2016-04-05 Impact factor: 17.659