Department of Genetic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Psychol Psychother. 2019 Jun;92(2):190-207. doi: 10.1111/papt.12227. Epub 2019 Mar 28.
Many mental health difficulties have developmental origins. Understanding the mechanisms for how psychosocial experiences are biologically embedded and influence lifelong development is a key challenge for the mental health disciplines. In recent years, epigenetic processes have emerged as a potential mechanism mediating the long-lasting vulnerability following the experience of adversity. Animal models provide evidence that early-life adversity can produce enduring epigenetic modifications in the brain, which mediate disorder-like behaviours, and there is emerging evidence to support that environmental factors influence epigenetic processes in humans. The investigation of DNA methylation, a chemical modification of the DNA with a role in gene regulatory processes, is becoming increasingly popular in psychological studies. A particular interest for the psychotherapy field lies in the potential for psychological interventions to influence epigenetic processes. Hence, the focus of this review will be on studies that have investigated intervention-associated changes in DNA methylation. Results of the first few studies will be critically reviewed, and a model of how therapy-associated changes of DNA methylation in peripheral, non-brain tissue might be useful as epigenetic biomarkers of treatment outcome will be presented. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Many mental health difficulties have substantial developmental origin. Epigenetic processes have emerged as a potential mechanism mediating the long-term effects of early adversity Epigenetic refers to cellular mechanisms that control gene expression states, independent of changes to the underlying DNA sequence. The epigenome can be highly dynamic and potentially influenced by external factors A particular interest for the psychotherapy field lies in the potential for psychological interventions to influence epigenetic processes.
许多心理健康问题都有其发展根源。了解心理社会经验如何在生物学上嵌入并影响终身发展的机制是心理健康学科的一个关键挑战。近年来，表观遗传过程已成为一种潜在的机制，可以解释逆境经历后长期脆弱性的原因。动物模型为以下观点提供了证据，即早期生活逆境会导致大脑中产生持久的表观遗传改变，从而介导类似疾病的行为，并且有越来越多的证据支持环境因素会影响人类的表观遗传过程。对 DNA 甲基化的研究，即 DNA 的一种化学修饰，在基因调控过程中发挥作用，在心理研究中越来越受欢迎。心理治疗领域特别关注心理干预是否会影响表观遗传过程。因此，本综述的重点将放在研究干预相关的 DNA 甲基化变化上。本文将批判性地回顾最初的几项研究的结果，并提出一个模型，即治疗相关的外周非脑组织 DNA 甲基化变化如何作为治疗结果的表观遗传生物标志物可能是有用的。
许多心理健康问题都有其发展根源。
表观遗传过程已成为一种潜在的机制，可以解释早期逆境的长期影响。
表观遗传是指控制基因表达状态的细胞机制，与基础 DNA 序列的变化无关。
表观基因组具有高度动态性，并且可能受到外部因素的影响。
心理治疗领域特别关注心理干预是否会影响表观遗传过程。
