Genetic Variants Affect Whether Stress Causes Mental Health Issues

People who are under stress have an increased risk of a variety of mental health problems. But not everyone who experiences stressful events develops issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or substance abuse, for example. It’s thought that small changes in genes, or variants, also play a role in whether or not people will experience psychiatric disorders after they are exposed to stress. A new study reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has provided new insight into the molecular influences underlying the…