DNA methylation of FKBP5 and response to exposure ‐based psychological therapy

Differential DNA methylation of the hypothalamic ‐pituitary‐adrenal axis related geneFKBP5 has recently been shown to be associated with varying response to environmental influences and may play a role in how well people respond to psychological treatments. Participants (n = 111) received exposure‐based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for agoraphobia with or without panic disorder, or specific phobias. Percentage DNA methylation levels were measured for the promoter region and intron 7 ofFKBP5. The association between percentage reduction in clinical severity and change in DNA methylation was tested using linear mixed models. The effect of genotype (rs1360780) was tested by the inclusion of an interaction term. The association between change in DNA methylation andFKBP5 expression was examined. Change in percentage DNA methylation at one CpG site of intron 7 was associated with percentage reduction in severity ( β = −4.26,p = 3.90 × 10−4), where a decrease in DNA methylation was associated with greater response to therapy. An interaction was detected between rs1360780 and changes in DNA methylation in the promoter region ofFKBP5 on treatment outcome (p = .045) but did not survive correction for multiple testing. Changes in DNA methylation were not associated withFKBP5 expression. Decreasing DNA methylation at one CpG site of intron 7 ofFKBP5 was strongly associated with decreasing anxiety severity following exposure ‐based CBT. In addition, th...
Source: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research