FKBP5 Methylation and Childhood Emotional Abuse in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Investigating the Relationship and Its Predictive Role in Therapy Outcome

University Hospital Tuebingen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Dialectical behavioral therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (DBT-PTSD)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06433843

090/2015BO2

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to investigate the role FKBP5 DNA methylation levels in patients suffering from complex posttraumatic stress disorder, who participated in a 12-weeks disorder-specific DBT-PTSD inpatient treatment. DNA methylation levels were measured before and after completing DBT-PTSD.

Full description

Epigenetic modifications in the FKBP5 gene, which is involved in regulating the stress response, have been found to be associated with trauma-related mental disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous research has suggested that FKBP5 may also be a predictor of therapy outcomes. However, there is limited evidence regarding its relationship with complex PTSD (cPTSD). This pilot study aimed to investigate the association between cPTSD and FKBP5 DNA methylation, as well as its predictive role in therapy outcomes among patients undergoing Dialectical Behavior Therapy for PTSD (DBT-PTSD), a 12-week trauma-focused inpatient treatment program.

29 patients with cPTSD who participated in the DBT-PTSD program were enrolled. FKBP5 DNA methylation levels were measured at two CpG sites before treatment (n=25) and after completing DBT-PTSD (n=15). To assess the predictive value of FKBP5 DNA methylation, we categorized the sample into responders and non-responders based on therapy outcome.

Enrollment: 29 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

complex posttraumatic stress disorder with or wothout comorbid borderline personality disorder Age between 18 and 65 Years Participiation in 12 weeks DBT-PTSD inpatient treatment

Exclusion criteria

Acute suicidality

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

29 participants in 1 patient group

cPTSD patients participating in 12-weeks DBT-PTSD program

Other group

Description:

The study consists of one arm including cPTSD patients, who participated in a 12-weeks dialectical behavioral therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (DBT-PTSD)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Dialectical behavioral therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (DBT-PTSD)