Blood test for PTSD on horizon as scientists find genetic changes in traumatised soldiers

A very interesting supposition!

GySgt John Olson - I read through the article.
As I mentioned RNA to DNA is a critical factor in the University of Maastricht study and hypothesis.
For this study they tests service members who have not been diagnosed with PTSD and some who have been diagnosed. That is somewhat biased study .
Double blind is best type lf study where neither patients nor testers know which is the study group and which is the control group.
In this particular test the service members who experienced trauma but were not labeled PTSD [yet] had changes in 27 RNA coded molecules.
This is why I mentioned the western-blot type test which would probably test the primary chromosomes to see changes which are assumed to be based on "stressful or frightening events" which is how they define the "anxiety disorder" Post traumatic stress disorder.
The study so far has been limited to service members deployed to Afghanistan. To be valid IMHO, the study should be expanded to a study of all service members by randomly selecting junior, mid-grade and senior service members through the services.
To be meaningful on induction into the military services should include a blood sample as baseline.

"Post traumatic stress disorder could soon be diagnosed with simple blood test after scientists found crucial genetic changes in soldiers suffering from trauma after serving in Afghanistan.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by stressful or frightening events which can cause flashbacks, nightmares, depression, sleep problems and guilt.
Until now it could only be diagnosed through self-reported symptoms, which many victims, particularly servicemen, were reluctant to disclose.
But scientists at the University of Maastricht discovered crucial differences in the microRNA molecules of soldiers who had served time in Afghanistan.
Unlike DNA which provides the genetic code for functions in the body, microRNA regulates how active those genes are.

When they looked at eight Afghanistan veterans who had suffered trauma and developed PTSD they found differences in 40 microRNA molecules compared to soldiers who had not fought.
Servicemen who suffered trauma but did not develop PTSD only had differences in 27 molecules. Crucially miRNA can circulate throughout the human body and can be detected in the blood, so a blood test could pick up the abnormalities.
“Most of our stressful experiences don’t leave a long-lasting psychological scar,” said lead author Dr Laurence de Nijs, of Maastricht University, The Netheralands.
“However, for some people who experience chronic severe stress or really terrible traumatic events, the stress does not go away. They are stuck with it and the body’s stress response is stuck in ‘on’ mode. This can lead to the development of mental illness such as PTSD.

“These preliminary results of our pilot study suggest that miRNAs might indeed be candidates as predictive blood markers to distinguish between persons at high and low risk of developing PTSD.”
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