A study explained that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be passed on through genes. Experts found a genetic variation of PTSD genes on several subjects that went through the trauma without a trigger.
Researchers from Harvard pointed out the existence of the PTSD genes on some people. The data of more than 20,000 people revealed that there are those who felt unreasonably sad, depressed and irritable without a trigger.
Women and people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are more prone to inherit the genes compared to their peers, according to Daily Mail. PTSD is a common mental health disorder that occurs after a person would go through a traumatic experience.
"We know from lots of data - from prisoners of war, people who have been in combat, and from rape victims - that many people exposed to even extreme traumatic events do not develop PTSD," Senior Author Karestan Koenen, professor of psychiatric epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said during an interview. "Why is that? We believe that genetic variation is an important factor contributing to this risk or resilience."
Koenen and his team came up with the number, specifically focused on European American women. It was mentioned that 29 percent of these women are at risk of inheriting the PTSD genes from their ancestors. The researcher also added that DNA plays a vital element in having the gene transferred.
One of the factors being considered is the size of the different parts of the brain and its correlation to PTSD. The researchers, however, are bound to have a deeper look into their findings as they are still in their early stages, as mentioned in CNN.
A huge number of individuals diagnosed with PTSD have relatives from the military and ancestors that went through the war. As a parent, what are your thoughts regarding the PTSD gene? Do let us know your thoughts through the comment section below.
