Identifying and characterizing genetic susceptibility to chronic pain and its overlap with psychosocial traits
Year: 2020
Type: preprint
Abstract: There is increasing recognition that individuals with chronic pain often suffer from multiple pain disorders and other forms of psychopathology (particularly anxiety and depression). Common underlying factors have been identified at both phenotypic and genetic levels. In addition, chronic pain and psychosocial disorders involve changes in overlapping brain pathways and are treated with some of the same drugs and similar psychological interventions. This overlap is part of a broader recognition that there are shared psychological, behavioral, and genetic risk factors underlying multiple psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the specific genetic risk factors across chronic pain and psychosocial traits are still largely unknown. We aim to identify the genetic architecture underlying this overlap and characterize shared genetic components in terms of single-nucleotide variants and pathways implicated. With this work we hope to (a) understand whether one or more common factors underlie chronic pain and psychopathology; (b) understand whether these common factors are related to specific pain disorders and psychiatric diagnoses; (c) understand whether causes of pain related to brain and psychological health can be dissociated from those related to peripheral injury and tissue characteristics; and (d) develop genetic markers for nonspecific and tissue-specific risk factors for chronic pain. The latter could be used to advance pain prognosis and select cases at risk for post-surgical pain, target prevention efforts to individuals at greatest risk, and stratify patients based on the underlying mechanisms driving pain.
Source: OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Author: Zorina-Lichtenwalter, Katerina
Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6944011864