Featured Publications
Genetic Liability to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Its Association With Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Outcomes
Pathak G, Singh K, Choi K, Fang Y, Kouakou M, Lee Y, Zhou X, Fritsche L, Wendt F, Davis L, Polimanti R. Genetic Liability to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Its Association With Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Outcomes. JAMA Psychiatry 2024, 81: 34-44. PMID: 37910111, PMCID: PMC10620678, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.4127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderBody mass indexMass General BrighamPTSD symptom severityElectronic health recordsSymptom severityRespiratory outcomesMass indexRisk factorsMedical outcomesHealth outcomesMendelian randomizationDisease categoriesGenetic liabilityMeta-analyzed associationsSignificant medical outcomesNonspecific chest painC-reactive proteinMental health disordersUK BiobankMultivariable Mendelian randomizationPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomsChest painCardiac dysrhythmiasTobacco smoking
2024
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Among US Military Veterans
Fischer I, Na P, Nagamatsu S, Jeste D, Cabrera-Mendoza B, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Krystal J, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Pietrzak R. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Among US Military Veterans. JAMA Psychiatry 2024, 81 PMID: 39476130, PMCID: PMC11581715, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3403.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIdentifying Genetically Inferred Effects Linking Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to Women’s Health, Lipid Disorders, and Malaria Medications
Pathak G, Wendt F, Maihofer A, Consortium P, Ressler K, Stein M, Koenen K, Nievergelt C, Polimanti R. Identifying Genetically Inferred Effects Linking Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to Women’s Health, Lipid Disorders, and Malaria Medications. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2024, 181: 1127-1130. PMID: 39380377, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230832.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderStress disorderMalaria medicationLipid disordersInference effectWomen's HealthDisordersMalariaMedicationDistinguishing vulnerability and resilience to posttraumatic stress disorder evaluating traumatic experiences, genetic risk and electronic health records
Løkhammer S, Koller D, Wendt F, Choi K, He J, Friligkou E, Overstreet C, Gelernter J, Hellard S, Polimanti R. Distinguishing vulnerability and resilience to posttraumatic stress disorder evaluating traumatic experiences, genetic risk and electronic health records. Psychiatry Research 2024, 337: 115950. PMID: 38744179, PMCID: PMC11156529, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115950.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchElectronic health recordsPosttraumatic stress disorderHealth recordsPTSD vulnerabilityUK Biobank (UKBPhenome-wide association studyRisk scorePhenotype risk scoreUs Research ProgramPolygenic risk scoresStress disorderAoU participantsUKB participantsPresence of posttraumatic stress disorderTrauma burdenGenetic riskPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsAssociation studiesPheWASClinical comorbiditiesComorbid associationsEye conditionsAOUInverse relationshipMultiple phenotypesEffects of genetically predicted posttraumatic stress disorder on autoimmune phenotypes
Maihofer A, Ratanatharathorn A, Hemmings S, Costenbader K, Michopoulos V, Polimanti R, Rothbaum A, Seedat S, Mikita E, Smith A, Salem R, Shaffer R, Wu T, Sebat J, Ressler K, Stein M, Koenen K, Wolf E, Sumner J, Nievergelt C. Effects of genetically predicted posttraumatic stress disorder on autoimmune phenotypes. Translational Psychiatry 2024, 14: 172. PMID: 38561342, PMCID: PMC10984931, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02869-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderMendelian randomizationTwo-sample Mendelian randomizationLinkage disequilibrium score regressionGenome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphismsCorrelated horizontal pleiotropyGenetic architectures of phenotypesMultivariable MR analysisSignificant single nucleotide polymorphismsAssociation of posttraumatic stress disorderCausal effectsSingle nucleotide polymorphismsGenetic correlationsMR-PRESSOHorizontal pleiotropyStress disorderMR analysisScore regressionGenetic architectureC-reactive proteinInverse varianceMR estimatesNucleotide polymorphismsPathway variablesEpidemiological evidenceFunctional correlates of a novel 8-factor model of PTSD in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Stiltner B, Fischer I, Duek O, Polimanti R, Harpaz-Rotem I, Pietrzak R. Functional correlates of a novel 8-factor model of PTSD in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2024, 171: 69-74. PMID: 38244335, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsModels of posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderNational Health and ResilienceU.S. military veteransArousal symptomsSuicidal ideationVeterans StudyCurrent depressionSymptom clustersMilitary veteransPosttraumatic stress disorder symptom clustersPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistAnxious arousal symptomsDysphoric arousal symptomsIntrusive symptom clustersOdds of suicidal ideationFunctional correlatesMulti-faceted disorderExternalizing behavioral symptomsAssociated with lower oddsAssociated with higher oddsSymptom structureAvoidance symptomsDSM-5
2023
Polysubstance addiction patterns among 7,989 individuals with cocaine use disorder
Stiltner B, Pietrzak R, Tylee D, Nunez Y, Adhikari K, Kranzler H, Gelernter J, Polimanti R. Polysubstance addiction patterns among 7,989 individuals with cocaine use disorder. IScience 2023, 26: 107336. PMID: 37554454, PMCID: PMC10405253, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107336.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCocaine use disorderUse disordersAddiction patternsMixed bipolar episodesLatent class analysisDSM-5 diagnosisPosttraumatic stress disorderAntisocial personality disorderPsA severityMedication useHigher PSAPSA subgroupsHigher oddsBipolar episodesStress disorderPersonality disorderDisordersSubgroupsAgeSexClass analysisParticipantsComorbiditiesDiseaseDiagnosisTrajectories of alcohol consumption in U.S. military veterans: Results from a 10-year population-based longitudinal study
Na P, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Petrakis I, Krystal J, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Pietrzak R. Trajectories of alcohol consumption in U.S. military veterans: Results from a 10-year population-based longitudinal study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2023, 246: 109833. PMID: 36963160, PMCID: PMC10811960, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109833.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol consumption groupCurrent mental health treatmentDysphoric arousal symptomsMental health treatmentUS veteransAlcohol consumptionHealth treatmentConsumption groupArousal symptomsYounger agePopulation-based longitudinal studyPublic health problemLongitudinal studyExcessive alcohol consumptionAlcohol use disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderU.S. military veteransMedical comorbiditiesChronic courseNational HealthClose monitoringUse disordersHealth problemsVeterans StudyStress disorder
2022
Understanding the comorbidity between posttraumatic stress severity and coronary artery disease using genome-wide information and electronic health records
Polimanti R, Wendt FR, Pathak GA, Tylee DS, Tcheandjieu C, Hilliard AT, Levey DF, Adhikari K, Gaziano JM, O’Donnell C, Assimes TL, Stein MB, Gelernter J. Understanding the comorbidity between posttraumatic stress severity and coronary artery disease using genome-wide information and electronic health records. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 3961-3969. PMID: 35986173, PMCID: PMC10986859, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01735-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCoronary artery diseasePosttraumatic stress disorderElectronic health recordsMillion Veteran ProgramArtery diseaseTotal scoreCAD diagnosisPlatelet amyloid precursor proteinHealth recordsPosttraumatic stress severityAmyloid precursor proteinEarly CAD diagnosisUK BiobankBidirectional relationshipTwo-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysisMendelian randomization analysisCAD riskHigh morbidityPTSD symptom severityCARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortiumPleiotropic mechanismsSymptom severityLongitudinal changesDiscordant effectsStress disorderShorter Telomeres Related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Re-experiencing Symptoms in Sexually Assaulted Civilian Women
Carvalho CM, Coimbra BM, Xavier G, Bugiga AVG, Fonseca T, Olff M, Polimanti R, Mello AF, Ota VK, Mello MF, Belangero SI. Shorter Telomeres Related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Re-experiencing Symptoms in Sexually Assaulted Civilian Women. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2022, 13: 835783. PMID: 35664481, PMCID: PMC9161278, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.835783.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderRe-experiencing symptomsPolymerase chain reactionMini International Neuropsychiatric InterviewClinician-Administered PTSD ScaleInternational Neuropsychiatric InterviewPTSD re-experiencing symptomsReal-time polymerase chain reactionCivilian womenMultiplex real-time polymerase chain reactionRemitter patientsShorter leukocyteBaseline LTLNeuropsychiatric InterviewPrevious historyPTSD ScaleMental disordersPTSD diagnosisSymptomsStress disorderPTSD casesPTSD symptomsTime pointsWomenChain reactionPolygenic scores for empathy associate with posttraumatic stress severity in response to certain traumatic events
Wendt FR, Warrier V, Pathak GA, Koenen KC, Stein MB, Krystal JH, Pietrzak RH, Gelernter J, Goldfarb EV, Baron-Cohen S, Polimanti R. Polygenic scores for empathy associate with posttraumatic stress severity in response to certain traumatic events. Neurobiology Of Stress 2022, 17: 100439. PMID: 35242894, PMCID: PMC8881478, DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100439.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderTraumatic eventsPolygenic scoringGreater emotional sensitivityChildhood neglect/abusePTSD symptom severityCertain traumatic eventsSevere PTSD symptomsPosttraumatic stress severityContext of traumaNeglect/abuseEarly life adversityHigher empathyPTSD symptomsEmotional sensitivityHigh empathizersStress disorderLife eventsEmpathyPotential traumaSymptom severityPolygenic scoresAutismStress severityDepression
2021
Attachment Style Moderates Polygenic Risk for Incident Posttraumatic Stress in U.S. Military Veterans: A 7-Year, Nationally Representative, Prospective Cohort Study
Tamman AJF, Wendt FR, Pathak GA, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Sippel LM, Gelernter J, Polimanti R, Pietrzak RH. Attachment Style Moderates Polygenic Risk for Incident Posttraumatic Stress in U.S. Military Veterans: A 7-Year, Nationally Representative, Prospective Cohort Study. Biological Psychiatry 2021, 91: 637-646. PMID: 34955171, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.09.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderAttachment styleU.S. military veteransIncident posttraumatic stress disorderSocial environmental factorsDevelopment of PTSDMilitary veteransInsecure attachment stylesSecure attachment stylePolygenic riskEffect of PRSLifetime trauma burdenPTSD preventionPosttraumatic stressPTSD developmentPTSD symptomsStress disorderPolygenic risk scoresHigh polygenic riskProspective designNationally RepresentativePotential pharmacotherapyMultivariate geneStyleVeteransPosttraumatic Stress Disorder and Cardiovascular Disease
O’Donnell C, Longacre L, Cohen BE, Fayad ZA, Gillespie CF, Liberzon I, Pathak GA, Polimanti R, Risbrough V, Ursano RJ, Vander Heide R, Yancy CW, Vaccarino V, Sopko G, Stein MB. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Cardiovascular Disease. JAMA Cardiology 2021, 6: 1207-1216. PMID: 34259831, DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2021.2530.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderAssociation of PTSDStress disorderTreatment of PTSDFunctional brain imaging studiesViolent personal assaultSevere psychological traumaBrain imaging studiesPotential causal connectionsMaladaptive reactionsPsychological traumaTraumatic eventsPTSD pathophysiologyHuman translational researchCardiovascular diseaseCVD outcomesAnatomical brain regionsPersonal assaultHuman-made disastersMilitary combatBrain regionsBrain changesHuman tissue biobanksBehavioral mechanismsRisk factorsPotential causal effect of posttraumatic stress disorder on alcohol use disorder and alcohol consumption in individuals of European descent: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Bountress KE, Wendt F, Bustamante D, Agrawal A, Webb B, Gillespie N, Edenberg H, Sheerin C, Johnson E, Group T, Polimanti R, Amstadter A. Potential causal effect of posttraumatic stress disorder on alcohol use disorder and alcohol consumption in individuals of European descent: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2021, 45: 1616-1623. PMID: 34120358, PMCID: PMC8429238, DOI: 10.1111/acer.14649.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderAlcohol use disorderStress disorderTrauma-related symptomsSelf-medication modelUse disordersAlcohol consumptionLarge-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataCausal effectNicotine usePotential causal effectsPTSD coLatent analysisEtiologic influencesAlcohol phenotypesHealth behaviorsPrevention effortsCorrelated riskDisordersPsychiatric Genomics ConsortiumMendelian randomization studyFindingsIndividualsClinical studiesMillion Veteran Program
2016
Genome-wide Association Studies of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 2 Cohorts of US Army Soldiers
Stein MB, Chen CY, Ursano RJ, Cai T, Gelernter J, Heeringa SG, Jain S, Jensen KP, Maihofer AX, Mitchell C, Nievergelt CM, Nock MK, Neale BM, Polimanti R, Ripke S, Sun X, Thomas ML, Wang Q, Ware EB, Borja S, Kessler RC, Smoller JW. Genome-wide Association Studies of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in 2 Cohorts of US Army Soldiers. JAMA Psychiatry 2016, 73: 695-704. PMID: 27167565, PMCID: PMC4936936, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0350.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultCarrier ProteinsCase-Control StudiesChromosomes, Human, Pair 19Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5Cohort StudiesFemaleGenetic LociGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMaleMilitary PersonnelPolymorphism, Single NucleotideStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticYoung AdultConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderTrauma-exposed controlsNew Soldier StudyRheumatoid arthritisStress disorderLifetime posttraumatic stress disorderSerious public health concernUnique participantsImmune-related disordersCumulative trauma exposureGenetic risk factorsPublic health concernLogistic regression modelsUS Army soldiersGenome-wide association studiesInflammatory disordersLifetime riskRisk factorsMAIN OUTCOMEPrimary analysisPost Deployment StudyAssociation studiesControl individualsMental disordersSignificant association