The stresses of womanhood

Abstract

Comments on an article by K. J. Ressler et al. (see record [rid]2011-04513-003[/rid]). Ressler et al. have identified a sex-specific association of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptor (PAC1) with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which could be useful in improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. PACAP is a hormone that serves many biological functions, including regulation of the cellular stress response. To investigate the possible role of PACAP signalling in psychological stress, Ressler et al. studied a cohort of more than 1,200 highly traumatized subjects with and without PTSD. Next, the authors searched for a genetic association between PTSD and variants of the genes encoding PACAP (ADCYAP1) and PAC1 (ADCYAP1R1) in a sample of over 1,200 individuals. Epigenetic mechanisms are thought to have a role in regulating the long-term effects of severe trauma. Consistent with this suggestion, Ressler et al. showed that methylation of the gene encoding PAC1 was associated with PTSD in a sex-independent manner. Together, these studies suggest that oestrogen-regulated PACAP signalling has a role in conferring vulnerability to a maladaptive response to severe trauma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)