A putative causal relationship between genetically determined female body shape and posttraumatic stress disorder
Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The nature and underlying mechanisms of the observed increased vulnerability to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women are unclear. We investigated the genetic overlap of PTSD with anthropometric traits and reproductive behaviors and functions in women. The analysis was conducted using female-specific summary statistics from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and a cohort of 3577 European American women (966 PTSD cases and 2611 trauma-exposed controls). We applied a high-resolution polygenic score approach and Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate genetic correlations and causal relationships. We observed an inverse association of PTSD with genetically determined anthropometric traits related to body shape, independent of body mass index (BMI). The top association was related to BMI-adjusted waist circumference (WC adj ; R = –0.079, P < 0.001, Q = 0.011). We estimated a relative decrease of 64.6% (95% confidence interval = 27.5–82.7) in the risk of PTSD per 1-SD increase in WC adj . MR-Egger regression intercept analysis showed no evidence of pleiotropic effects in this association (P pleiotropy = 0.979). We also observed associations of genetically determined WC adj with age at first sexual intercourse and number of sexual partners ( P = 0.013 and P < 0.001, respectively). There is a putative causal relationship between genetically determined female body shape and PTSD, which could be mediated by evolutionary mechanisms involved in human sexual behaviors.
Source: Genome Medicine
Authors: Renato Polimanti, Ananda B. Amstadter, Murray B. Stein, Lynn M. Almli, Dewleen G. Baker, Laura J. Bierut, Bekh Bradley, Lindsay A. Farrer, Eric O. Johnson, Anthony King, Henry R. Kranzler, Adam X. Maihofer, John P. Rice, Andrea L. Roberts, Nancy L. Saccone, Hongyu Zhao, Israel Liberzon, Kerry J. Ressler, Caroline M. Nievergelt, Karestan C. Koenen, Joel Gelernter
Institutions: Yale University, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of California San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System, Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Emory University, Washington University in St. Louis, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Boston University, RTI International, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, McLean Hospital, Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,290
Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yale University, Brown University, McLean Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Emory University, Harvard University, School of Medicine, Boston University, RTI International, Virginia Commonwealth University, Broad Institute, Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Cardiff University, University of Queensland, University of Cape Town, National Institutes of Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of California, San Diego, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Research Council, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
OpenAlex ID: W2770967624