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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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Open Access 24-08-2022 | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Original Paper

Mental health and the effects on methylation of stress-related genes in front-line versus other health care professionals during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian pilot study

Authors: Silvia Tabano, Lorenzo Tassi, Marta Giulia Cannone, Gloria Brescia, Gabriella Gaudioso, Mariarosa Ferrara, Patrizia Colapietro, Laura Fontana, Monica Rosa Miozzo, Giorgio Alberto Croci, Manuela Seia, Cristina Piuma, Monica Solbiati, Eleonora Tobaldini, Stefano Ferrero, Nicola Montano, Giorgio Costantino, Massimiliano Buoli

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 2/2023

Abstract

Healthcare workers experienced high degree of stress during COVID-19. Purpose of the present article is to compare mental health (depressive and Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorders—PTSD—symptoms) and epigenetics aspects (degree of methylation of stress-related genes) in front-line healthcare professionals versus healthcare working in non-COVID-19 wards. Sixty-eight healthcare workers were included in the study: 39 were working in COVID-19 wards (cases) and 29 in non-COVID wards (controls). From all participants, demographic and clinical information were collected by an ad-hoc questionnaire. Depressive and PTSD symptoms were evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R), respectively. Methylation analyses of 9 promoter/regulatory regions of genes known to be implicated in depression/PTSD (ADCYAP1, BDNF, CRHR1, DRD2, IGF2, LSD1/KDM1A, NR3C1, OXTR, SLC6A4) were performed on DNA from blood samples by the MassARRAY EpiTYPER platform, with MassCleave settings. Controls showed more frequent lifetime history of anxiety/depression with respect to cases (χ² = 5.72, p = 0.03). On the contrary, cases versus controls presented higher PHQ-9 (t = 2.13, p = 0.04), PHQ-9 sleep item (t = 2.26, p = 0.03), IES-R total (t = 2.17, p = 0.03), IES-R intrusion (t = 2.46, p = 0.02), IES-R avoidance (t = 1.99, p = 0.05) mean total scores. Methylation levels at CRHR1, DRD2 and LSD1 genes was significantly higher in cases with respect to controls (p < 0.01, p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). Frontline health professionals experienced more negative effects on mental health during COVID-19 pandemic than non-frontline healthcare workers. Methylation levels were increased in genes regulating HPA axis (CRHR1) and dopamine neurotransmission (DRD2 and LSD1), thus supporting the involvement of these biological processes in depression/PTSD and indicating that methylation of these genes can be modulated by stress conditions, such as working as healthcare front-line during COVID-19 pandemic.

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Title: Mental health and the effects on methylation of stress-related genes in front-line versus other health care professionals during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian pilot study
Authors: Silvia Tabano
Lorenzo Tassi
Marta Giulia Cannone
Gloria Brescia
Gabriella Gaudioso
Mariarosa Ferrara
Patrizia Colapietro
Laura Fontana
Monica Rosa Miozzo
Giorgio Alberto Croci
Manuela Seia
Cristina Piuma
Monica Solbiati
Eleonora Tobaldini
Stefano Ferrero
Nicola Montano
Giorgio Costantino
Massimiliano Buoli
Publication date: 24-08-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
COVID-19
Epigenetics
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-022-01472-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Mental health and the effects on methylation of stress-related genes in front-line versus other health care professionals during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian pilot study

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

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