Original scientific paper

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) AS A BASIS FOR INDIVIDUALIZED AND PERSONALIZED THERAPY: RATIONALE, DESIGN AND METHODS OF THE SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE (SEE)-PTSD STUDY

Alma Dzubur-Kulenovic orcid.org/0000-0002-1883-7111 ; Department of Psychiatric, University Clinical Center, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ferid Agani ; Faculty of Medicine, University Hasan Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo
Esmina Avdibegovic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Miro Jakovljevic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dragan Babic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abdulah Kucukalic ; Department of Psychiatric, University Clinical Center, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sabina Kucukalic ; Department of Psychiatric, University Clinical Center, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Emina Sabic Dzananovic ; Department of Psychiatric, University Clinical Center, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Alma Bravo Mehmedbasic ; Department of Psychiatric, University Clinical Center, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Aferdita Goci Uka ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo
Shpend Haxhibeqiri ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo
Valdete Haxhibeqiri ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo
Blerina Hoxha ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo
Osman Sinanovic ; Department of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nermina Kravic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mirnesa Muminovic ; Community Health Center, Zivinice, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Branka Aukst-Margetic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Nenad Jaksic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Cima Franc ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dusko Rudan ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Pavlovic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Romana Babic ; Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Elma Feric Bojic ; Department of Genetics and Bioengeneering, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Damir Marjanovic ; Department of Genetics and Bioengeneering, International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nada Bozina ; Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Christiane Ziegler ; Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Christiane Wolf ; Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Bodo Warrings ; Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Katharina Domschke ; Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Jürgen Deckert ; Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

Abstract

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a major health problem in South Eastern Europe (SEE). Available treatment options
are not efficient enough and the course is often chronic. Little is known about molecular mediators and moderators of pathogenesis
and therapy. Genetic and epigenetic variation may be one central molecular mechanism.
We therefore established a consortium combining clinical expertise on PTSD from SEE countries Bosnia-Herzegovina (Sarajevo,
Tuzla and Mostar), Kosovo (Prishtina) and Croatia (Zagreb) with genetic and epigenetic competence from Germany (Würzburg) in
2011 within the framework of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)-funded Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
After obtaining ethical votes and performing rater trainings as well as training in DNA extraction from EDTA blood between
2011 and 2013, we recruited 747 individuals who had experienced war-related trauma in the SEE conflicts between 1991 and 1999.
236 participants had current PTSD, 161 lifetime PTSD and 350 did not have and never had PTSD.
Demographic and clinical data are currently merged together with genetic and epigenetic data in a single database to allow for
a comprehensive analysis of the role of genetic and epigenetic variation in the pathogenesis and therapy of PTSD. Analyses will be
done to a great degree by PhD students from participating SEE centers who in addition to participation in the project had an
opportunity to take part in spring and summer schools of the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) funded Research Training
Group (RTG) 1253 and thus meet PhD students from Germany and other countries
We are confident that our project will not only contribute to a better understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of PTSD
as a basis for future individualized and personalized therapies, but also to the academic development of South Eastern Europe.

Keywords

PTSD; South Eastern Europe; genetics; epigenetics; molecular mechanisms; individualized therapy; personalized therapy

Hrčak ID:

175273

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/175273

Publication date:

7.6.2016.

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