title: Interaction between genetic variants and exposure to Hurricane Katrina on post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth: a prospective analysis of low income adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is considerable variation in psychological reactions to natural disasters, with responses ranging from relatively mild and transitory symptoms to severe and persistent posttraumatic stress (PTS). Some survivors also report post-traumatic growth (PTG), or positive psychological changes due to the experience and processing of the disaster and its aftermath. Gene-environment interaction (GxE) studies could offer new insight into the factors underlying variability in post-disaster psychological responses. However, few studies have explored GxE in a disaster context.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined whether ten common variants in seven genes (BDNF, CACNA1C, CRHR1, FKBP5, OXTR, RGS2, SLC6A4) modified associations between Hurricane Katrina exposure and PTS and PTG. Data were from a prospective study of 205 low-income non-Hispanic Black parents residing in New Orleans prior to and following Hurricane Katrina.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant association (after correction) between RGS2 (rs4606; p=0.0044) and PTG, which was mainly driven by a cross-over GxE (p=0.006), rather than a main genetic effect (p=0.071). The G (minor allele) was associated with lower PTG scores for low levels of Hurricane exposure and higher PTG scores for moderate and high levels of exposure. We also found a nominally significant association between variation in FKBP5 (rs1306780, p=0.0113) and PTG, though this result did not survive correction for multiple testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the inclusion of low-income non-Hispanic Black parents allowed us to examine GxE among a highly vulnerable group, our findings may not generalize to other populations or groups experiencing other natural disasters. Moreover, not all participants invited to participate in the genetic study provided saliva.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify GxE in the context of post-traumatic growth. Future studies are needed to clarify the role of GxE in PTS and PTG and post-disaster psychological responses, especially among vulnerable populations.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Genetics Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, United States; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, United States. Electronic address: erindunn@pngu.mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solovieff
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Patience J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaponis
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosand
authors.forename: Karestan C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koenen
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Jean E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Jordan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Smoller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000235:genetics; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055820:New Orleans / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D000099159:Tacrolimus Binding Protein 5
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020710:RGS Proteins; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D000099159:Tacrolimus Binding Protein 5; C079146:CACNA1C protein, human; C569600:OXTR protein, human; C087182:RGS2 protein, human; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: Adversity; Genes; Hurricane; Post-traumatic growth; Post-traumatic stress; Resilience