New PTSD biotypes enables improved tests, sheds light on divergent treatments efficacy

Researchers from the PTSD Systems Biology Consortium, led by scientists from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, have identified distinct biotypes for post-traumatic stress disorder, the first of their kind for any psychological disorder. "These biotypes can refine the development of screening tools and may explain the varying efficacy of PTSD treatments", said Dr. Marti Jett, leader of the consortium and WRAIR chief scientist.

Publishing their work in Molecular Psychiatry in a manuscript first authored by WRAIR's Dr. Ruoting Yang, researchers used blood tests from male, combat-exposed veterans across a three year period to identify two PTSD biotypes, G1--characterized by mild, inherent co-morbidities typical of PTSD--and G2--which includes more severe symptoms typical of PTSD and report more physical distress--with differing genetic markers and underlying mechanisms of disease. Building on END