Exploring Candidate Genes and Sexual Trauma: Alternative PTSD Treatments

This study examines the relationship between sexual trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and DNA methylation, with a focus on evaluating the therapeutic potential of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The primary hypotheses posited that individuals with a history of sexual trauma would exhibit greater PTSD symptom severity at baseline and that trauma type would differentially influence both treatment outcomes and epigenetic changes. PTSD severity was assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). DNA methylation profiles were analyzed at baseline and post-treatment in a subset of participants from a larger randomized controlled trial of MDMA-assisted therapy. Findings indicated that participants with sexual trauma reported significantly higher PTSD severity scores at baseline compared to those with other trauma types. However, baseline DNA methylation levels were not significantly associated with trauma type. Similarly, trauma type did not predict substantially overall treatment response. Differential DNA methylation changes were observed post-treatment concerning trauma type, particularly in genes implicated in stress response and neuroplasticity, including BRSK2, ADCYAP1, and NR3C1. These findings suggest that MDMA-assisted therapy may elicit trauma-specific epigenetic modifications, underscoring the potential for tailored therapeutic strategies based on trauma history.