Study supports link between physical injury and mental health

The study, led by researchers at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer, sought to investigate whether physical injury results in chemical modification of an individual’s genome, and whether the genes associated with such changes could provide information on how their genetics and experience shape their liability to mental illness.

Using research data from Generation Scotland, they investigated the association of DNA methylation, one such chemical modifier, with experience of traumatic injury and depression. 

They identified associations consistent with altered signalling in pathways encoding fear-associated memories, including oxytocin-signalling.

Oxytocin is a hormone known to be involved in regulating stress response. The use of oxytocin to treat anxiety and depression-related disorders is being investigated across multiple types of traumatic events such as grief, social stress and head injury, as well as traumatic fracture.

This study found different patterns of DNA methylation associated with physical trauma depending on whether the individuals had a diagnosis of depression, which may help explain some of the variability in the results of studies investigating the therapeutic potential of oxytocin.

Photo by Mohamad Azaam on Unsplash