Evaluation of Stress Management and Stress Prevention Using Epigenetic Markers

Abstract

Stress is associated with mental health problems and physical diseases. Results from basic research indicate that stress-induced dysregulations of bodily stress response systems might mediate these processes. In consequence, many programs to prevent or manage stress have been developed and evaluated using endpoints of these bodily stress systems. Over the last few years, emerging evidence from human and animal studies has indicated that stress also leads to changes in epigenetic signatures. The functional consequences of these changes, among them altered gene expression, have been shown to modulate the psychobiological stress response. Some recent studies now show that psychosocial interventions, such as stress prevention and stress management, can alter epigenetic processes. In this review, we will present an outline on (1) relevant epigenetic mechanisms, (2) the current literature on the association of stress and epigenetics, and (3) mechanisms through which psychological interventions might alter stress-related epigenetic markers.