Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Linked to Genetics

Researchers from UCLA believe that people show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  in their genes. PSTD is a disorder that  develops where people endured a life threatening event in their life such as a rape or war.  They have found two genes that are correlated to serotonin production leading to a bigger risk of this disorder. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is involved in sleep, depression, and memory. These genes not only tells people that they might be inclined to the disorder but also have new treatments for it. Dr. Armen Goenjian, the main author, examined DNA from 200 people from Armenia that went through a horrible earthquake. There were 12 extended families who had the two genes making it more prone to PTSD symptoms. The genes were TPH1 and TPH2 which controls the prodcution of serotonin. Disrupted serotonins causes PTSD, basically saying that the genes are producing less serotonin resulting in PTSD. However, finding these genes can help the military know where to assign soldiers to their combat duties since they are prone PTSD. Psychaitrists have been using the trial and error process for treating patients but now they know that serotonin and the genes play a big role they will be able to do something. What really interested me in this article was that this discovery can actually help the military field. They would know if the soldiers are prone to this disease and would reassign them somewhere else where it wouldn't affect them...also this would be good the soldiers and their families it would give them a piece of mind.