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Learning Objective 1: identify differences in symptom severity between women experiencing PTSD versus those with PTSD and adverse childhood events-sexual abuse.
Learning Objective 2: Describe the association between DNA methylation, immune response markers, adverse childhood events-sexual abuse, and PTSD.
Subjects include female veterans categorized into four study groups: control, PTSD, PTSD + adverse childhood events-sexual abuse, and only adverse childhood events-sexual abuse. Total sample size= 20. Exclusion criteria for both studies include; contraception use, pregnancy, current smoker status, substance abuse, and the anti-inflammatory/ autoimmune disease medication use. Methods: (a) Psychometric analyses: Instruments to be administered include Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, BDI-II, PCL-C, and the CTQ. (a) Methylation analyses: DNA isolated from serum and whole genome methylation analyses will be conducted using a Illumina 450K methylation beadchip, using manufacturers protocols. (b) Biomarker/immunological analyses: A Luminex multiplexed high-sensitivity assay to determine levels of several cytokines including IL6, IFNa, IL1b, IL2, IL-4, IL-10 and TNFa. Additionally, we will assess cortisol, DHEAS in plasma, white blood cell count, and ESR.
As there are almost two million women veterans in the United States, polytrauma is of significance relevance to health care delivery in both the VA and health care agencies throughout the country. Prior trauma “primes” the inflammatory response system so that it reacts more rapidly to subsequent life stressors. Women in the military and female veterans may have experienced multiple traumatic experiences, many occurring in early childhood then later compounded by experiences in war zone exposure in a prolonged counter-insurgency environment. Few studies involving gender as a risk factor for combat related PTSD have been conducted. Pinpointing the biologic mechanisms by which gender specific alterations arise could provide fundamental insights into the etiology and treatment of PTSD.