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Polymorphisms in FKBP5 are associated with peritraumatic dissociation in medically injured children

Molecular Psychiatry volume 10, pages 1058–1059 (2005)Cite this article

SIR—Recently, Binder et al1 reported association between two polymorphisms (rs3800373, rs1360780) in the FKBP5 gene, a glucocorticoid receptor-regulating cochaperone of stress proteins, and greater recurrence of depressive episodes and rapid response to antidepressant treatment in two independent samples. The authors cite the role of FKBP5 in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulation, positing that these polymorphisms may result in ‘more rapid onset of stress hormone hyperactivity after stressful life events' (p 1323). Animal models support genetically influenced individual differences in HPA axis regulation that produce variation in acute behavioral responses to stress.2 One characteristic behavioral response to life-threatening stress is immobilization or freezing. This behavioral response to threat is thought to be evolutionarily conserved, and present in humans as peritraumatic dissociation. Behaviorally, peritraumatic dissociation is characterized by insensitivity to pain, losing time, feeling that the experience is unreal, or feeling as if something is happening in slow motion. Genetic influences on peritraumatic dissociation have not been examined previously. Here we report evidence for an association between the same polymorphisms in the FKBP5 gene studied by Binder et al1 and peritraumatic dissociation in a sample of injured children.

Children (n=46) were enrolled following their admission to the hospital for an acute medical injury. They were: 24 African-Americans, 22 Whites; 34 boys, 12 girls; mean age=14, SD=3.1; range 7–18. Over 54% (n=25) of the injuries involved motor vehicle accidents, 24% (n=11) involved physical assaults including stabbings or gunshot wounds, 13% (n=6) involved falls, and the remaining four involved other types of injuries. Children were interviewed in the hospital by a master's level psychologist about dissociation during the injury using the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ)3 and dissociation since the injury using the dissociation questions of the PTSD Reaction Index (PTSD-RI).4 The distribution for both measures approximated normality. Injury severity score5 was based on the surgeon's rating (M=9.23, SD=7.01, range 1–34). Buccal DNA samples were obtained from each subject via mouthwash. DNA was isolated using the Gentra DNA isolation kit (Gentra Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Two SNPS in the FKBP5 gene (rs3800373, rs1360780) were typed in each subject using real-time PCR technology (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Both markers were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (rs3800373 AA n=14 (32.6%); CA n=24 (55.8%); CC n=5 (11.6%); rs1360780 CC n=14 (31.1%); CT n=26 (57.8%); TT n=5 (11.1%)). Self-reported ethnicity was unrelated to either genotype distribution (rs3800373 χ2(2)=0.77, P=0.68; rs1360780 χ2(2)=1.30, P=0.52) or to either measure of dissociation (PDEQ b=1.79, SE=2.54, P=0.49; PTSD-RI b=−2.54, SE=1.30, P=0.10).

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Acknowledgements

This study was partly supported by the RWJ Health and Society Scholars program based at the Harvard Center for Society and Health. This study was also supported by NIMH K08 MH070627 to Dr Koenen and NIMH R01 MH63247 to Dr Saxe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    K C Koenen

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    K C Koenen, G Saxe, D Bartholomew, A Miller, E Hall & M Bosquet

  3. Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    G Saxe, A Miller, E Hall & M Bosquet

  4. Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    S Purcell & J W Smoller

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    J W Smoller

  6. Department of Psychiatry, New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ), Newark, NJ, USA

    J Kaplow

  7. Division of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    S Moulton

  8. Center for Human Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    C Baldwin

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  1. K C Koenen
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  2. G Saxe
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Correspondence to K C Koenen.

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Koenen, K., Saxe, G., Purcell, S. et al. Polymorphisms in FKBP5 are associated with peritraumatic dissociation in medically injured children. Mol Psychiatry 10, 1058–1059 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001727

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