Early Life Stress Induced Epigenetic Changes Involved In Mental Disorders

Epigenetics in Psychiatry, Second Edition covers all major areas of psychiatry in which extensive epigenetic research has been performed, fully encompassing a diverse and maturing field, including drug addiction, bipolar disorder, epidemiology, cognitive disorders, and the uses of putative epigenetic-based psychotropic drugs. Uniquely, each chapter correlates epigenetics with relevant advances across genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. The book acts as a catalyst for further research in this growing area of psychiatry. This new edition has been fully revised to address recent advances in epigenetic understanding of psychiatric disorders, evoking data consortia (e.g., CommonMind, ATAC-seq), single cell analysis, and epigenome-wide association studies to empower new research. The book also examines epigenetic effects of the microbiome on psychiatric disorders, and the use of neuroimaging in studying the role of epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression. Ongoing advances in epigenetic therapy are explored in-depth. Fully revised to discuss new areas of research across neuronal stem cells, cognitive disorders, and transgenerational epigenetics in psychiatric disease Relates broad advances in psychiatric epigenetics to a modern understanding of the genome, transcriptome, and proteins Catalyzes knowledge discovery in both basic epigenetic biology and epigenetic targets for drug discovery Provides guidance in research methods and protocols, as well how to employ data from consortia, single cell analysis, and epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) Features chapter contributions from international leaders in the field

This innovative collection extends the emerging field of stress biology to examine the effects of a substantial source of early-life stress: child abuse and neglect. Research findings across endocrinology, immunology, neuroscience, and genomics supply new insights into the psychological variables associated with adversity in children and its outcomes. These compelling interdisciplinary data add to a promising model of biological mechanisms involved in individual resilience amid chronic maltreatment and other trauma. At the same time, these results also open out distinctive new possibilities for serving vulnerable children and youth, focusing on preventing, intervening in, and potentially even reversing the effects of chronic early trauma. Included in the coverage: Biological embedding of child maltreatment Toward an adaptation-based approach to resilience Developmental traumatology: brain development and maltreated children with and without PTSD Childhood maltreatment and pediatric PTSD: abnormalities in threat neural circuitry An integrative temporal framework for psychological resilience The Biology of Early Life Stress is important reading for child maltreatment researchers; clinical psychologists; educators in counseling, psychology, trauma, and nursing; physicians; and state- and federal-level policymakers. Advocates, child and youth practitioners, and clinicians in general will find it a compelling resource.

With recent studies using genetic, epigenetic, and other molecular and neurochemical approaches, a new era has begun in understanding pathophysiology of suicide. Emerging evidence suggests that neurobiological factors are not only critical in providing potential risk factors but also provide a promising approach to develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide discusses the most recent findings in suicide neurobiology. Psychological, psychosocial, and cultural factors are important in determining the risk factors for suicide; however, they offer weak prediction and can be of little clinical use. Interestingly, cognitive characteristics are different among depressed suicidal and depressed nonsuicidal subjects, and could be involved in the development of suicidal behavior. The characterization of the neurobiological basis of suicide is in delineating the risk factors associated with suicide. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide focuses on how and why these neurobiological factors are crucial in the pathogenic mechanisms of suicidal behavior and how these findings can be transformed into potential therapeutic applications.

Neuroepigenetics and Mental Illness, Volume 158, the latest release in the Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science series, seeks to provide the most topical, informative, and exciting monographs available on a wide variety of research topics related to prions, viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. The series seeks to provide readers with in-depth knowledge of important molecular biological aspects of organismal physiology and function, with this release focusing on Neuroepigenetics in mental illness, Neuroepigenetics of development and neurodevelopmental disorder, Neuroepigenetics of aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, Neuroepigenetics of prenatal psychological stress, Neuroepigenetics of the HPA axis, Neuroepigenetics of the serotonergic system, and more. Presents updated volumes comprising 15-20 chapters, allowing comprehensive coverage on a topic Uses tables, diagrams, schemata and color figures to enhance the reader's ability to rapidly grasp the information provided in each chapter

Epigenetics of Stress and Stress Disorders, a new volume in the Translational Epigenetics series, examines the epigenetic mechanisms involved in modifying DNA following prolonged stress or trauma. This is accomplished through the evaluation of both the physiological and molecular effects of stress on the body that can eventually lead to stress disorders. The book begins by providing a psychiatric, biological, and phenomenological foundation for understanding stress disorders, before delving into the genomics of stress disorders. From here, chapter authors discuss a range of recent epigenetic research in the area, highlighting epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), exciting developments in noncoding RNA studies, possible effects of prolonged stress on telomere shortening, and the long-term physical effects of PTSD on the health of patients. The book also examines the effect of adversity during sensitive periods or development and across the life span. The book concludes by looking at possible transgenerational stress-induced epigenetic alterations on future offspring and important areas of research for public health, along with the potential for epigenetic therapeutics or "epidrugs.” Examines the epigenetics of stress, trauma, and related stress disorders Connects new research to clinical practice and highlights implications for patient care, drug discovery, and public health Discusses the epigenetic effect of adversity across the life span, and transgenerational stress-induced epigenetic alterations Features chapter contributions from international experts in the field

This book examines the toxicological and health implications of environmental epigenetics and provides knowledge through an interdisciplinary approach. Included in this volume are chapters outlining various environmental risk factors such as phthalates and dietary components, life states such as pregnancy and ageing, hormonal and metabolic considerations and specific disease risks such as cancer cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases. Environmental Epigenetics imparts integrative knowledge of the science of epigenetics and the issues raised in environmental epidemiology. This book is intended to serve both as a reference compendium on environmental epigenetics for scientists in academia, industry and laboratories and as a textbook for graduate level environmental health courses. Environmental Epigenetics imparts integrative knowledge of the science of epigenetics and the issues raised in environmental epidemiology. This book is intended to serve both as a reference compendium on environmental epigenetics for scientists in academia, industry and laboratories and as a textbook for graduate level environmental health courses.

The Social Determinants of Mental Health aims to fill the gap that exists in the psychiatric, scholarly, and policy-related literature on the social determinants of mental health: those factors stemming from where we learn, play, live, work, and age that impact our overall mental health and well-being. The editors and an impressive roster of chapter authors from diverse scholarly backgrounds provide detailed information on topics such as discrimination and social exclusion; adverse early life experiences; poor education; unemployment, underemployment, and job insecurity; income inequality, poverty, and neighborhood deprivation; food insecurity; poor housing quality and housing instability; adverse features of the built environment; and poor access to mental health care. This thought-provoking book offers many beneficial features for clinicians and public health professionals: Clinical vignettes are included, designed to make the content accessible to readers who are primarily clinicians and also to demonstrate the practical, individual-level applicability of the subject matter for those who typically work at the public health, population, and/or policy level. Policy implications are discussed throughout, designed to make the content accessible to readers who work primarily at the public health or population level and also to demonstrate the policy relevance of the subject matter for those who typically work at the clinical level. All chapters include five to six key points that focus on the most important content, helping to both prepare the reader with a brief overview of the chapter's main points and reinforce the "take-away" messages afterward. In addition to the main body of the book, which focuses on selected individual social determinants of mental health, the volume includes an in-depth overview that summarizes the editors' and their colleagues' conceptualization, as well as a final chapter coauthored by Dr. David Satcher, 16th Surgeon General of the United States, that serves as a "Call to Action," offering specific actions that can be taken by both clinicians and policymakers to address the social determinants of mental health. The editors have succeeded in the difficult task of balancing the individual/clinical/patient perspective and the population/public health/community point of view, while underscoring the need for both groups to work in a unified way to address the inequities in twenty-first century America. The Social Determinants of Mental Health gives readers the tools to understand and act to improve mental health and reduce risk for mental illnesses for individuals and communities. Students preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) will also benefit from this book, as the MCAT in 2015 will test applicants' knowledge of social determinants of health. The social determinants of mental health are not distinct from the social determinants of physical health, although they deserve special emphasis given the prevalence and burden of poor mental health.

A resource of unparalleled thoroughness, The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment, Second Edition provides critical information for those who dedicate their working lives to alleviating the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect. Written in engaging but straightforward language and committed to immediate application, this comprehensive handbook covers physical and sexual abuse, all forms of neglect, and psychological maltreatment. Experts in a variety of specialized areas have designed each chapter to inform professionals in mental health, law, medicine, law enforcement, and child protective services of the most current empirical research and literature available as well as strategies for intervention and prevention.

"Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent and one of the leading causes of disease burden worldwide. Nevertheless, there are no validated biomarkers to be used for either diagnostic or prognostic purposes and their etiology remains largely unknown. Thanks to heritability studies, it has been recognized that both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) contribute to the onset of mental disorders. Accordingly, exposure to both prenatal stress and childhood maltreatment has been reliably identified as a risk factor for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. However, not all individuals facing this kind of early environmental insults ends up developing psychopathological conditions. Thus, gene—environment (GxE) interactions have been proposed to be involved in the physiopathology of mental disorders; epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation have been hypothesized to mediate these interactions. In this framework, the present dissertation aimed to disentangle the role of DNA methylation both in increasing anxious-depressive liability, and embedding the experience of severe prenatal stress, thanks to two independent samples of monozygotic twins. NR3C1 gene, encoding the glucocorticoid receptor, was selected as a candidate gene of interest due to its crucial role in the regulation of the stress response. A systematic review of the available scientific literature revealed a great interest in NR3C1 methylation, and specifically in its exon 1F, in the context of both exposure to stress and stress-related disorders, highlighting the association between exposure to early life stress and NR3C1 hypermethylation. Additionally, this revision also pointed out the lack of studies regarding other promoter regions of this gene. Thus, we explored NR3C1 exon 1D methylation near a glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) describing its association with both (i) the familial component of anxious-depressive liability, and (ii) hippocampal connectivity within the brain emotional network. Our second candidate gene of interest was SLC6A4, encoding the serotonin transporter, which is the primary pharmacological target of the most widely prescribed antidepressants to date (SSRIs). Again, a systematic review of the literature revealed the association between SLC6A4 methylation and exposure to early life stress, further suggesting its mediator role in previously discussed GxE interactions involving a long polymorphic region of this gene (5-HTTLPR). Complementarily, we assessed SLC6A4 methylation in a CpG island shore region characterized by a sex-differential methylation pattern; specifically, women exhibit higher methylation at this region when compared to men. Remarkably, we found an association between methylation at this region and the presence of somatization symptoms, suggesting the involvement of SLC6A4 methylation in known sexual differences regarding internalizing psychopathology globally. Since epigenetic signatures can arise in a stochastic fashion, monozygotic twins were also analyzed to identify methylation outliers which could potentially contribute to anxious-depressive psychopathology. In this regard, we reported the presence of methylation outliers in genes previously involved in neuropsychiatric disorders. Finally, the role of prenatal stress in fetal DNA methylation signatures was also explored. First, a meta-analysis on maternal psychosocial stress experienced during pregnancy and newborn NR3C1 methylation exhibited the association between both variables in line with non-genetic intergenerational transmission of stress hypotheses. On the other hand, a sample of monochorionic monozygotic newborn twins exposed to several prenatal complications was epigenomically assessed with regard to an obstetric routine measure predictive of perinatal morbid risk. The latter study revealed newborns exposed to prenatal stress during the third trimester of pregnancy exhibit developmental immaturity in terms of epigenetic (DNA methylation based) age; furthermore, differential CpG-specific methylation was found in EP300 gene, a previously identified candidate gene conferring risk for schizophrenia and involved in hypoxia response. Together, these findings support the notion that DNA methylation is involved both in the embedding of early life stress exposure and the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders." -- TDX.