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CC BY 4.0 · AIMS Genet 2018; 05(03): 177-190
DOI: 10.3934/genet.2018.3.177
Review

Panic disorders: The role of genetics and epigenetics

Eun Jeong Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Republic of Korea
,
Yong-Ku Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Republic of Korea
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Abstract

Panic disorder is characterized by symptoms with abrupt surges of fear with palpitations, sweating, trembling, heat sensations. Considering its disease burden on each individual and on society, understanding its etiology is important. Though no one specific etiology has been known, like other psychiatric disorders, multiple factors such as genetic, environmental, neurobiological, psychopathological factors have been suggested. In this article, we reviewed currently known etiologies and related study results, regarding especially genetic and epigenetic aspects of the panic disorder. Early studies, including twin studies, family studies, adoption studies suggested highly familial trait of panic disorder. Linkage studies, either, found panic disorder is not a single gene disorder but confirmed existence of multiple related genes. Chromosome and candidate gene studies found few related genes, NPY, ADORA2A, COMT, IKBKE. Newer method, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been searching for newer genes. No genome-wide significant genes, however, were detected, confirming previously known candidate genes, NPY5R on 4q31.3-32, BDKRB2 on 14q32, instead. Epigenetic modification has also been studied on many different psychiatric disorders. Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) hypomethylation, taken together with negative life events, showed relation with panic disorder. Glutamate decarbodylases 1 (GAD1) hypomethylation was also specific on panic disorder patients. Relation with noradrenaline transporter (NET) gene SLC6a2 promoter methylation has also been studied. In conclusion, no specific gene or epigenetic pattern can fully explain etiology of panic disorder. Few genes and epigenetic patterns, however, showed strong association with panic disorder compared to healthy controls. Considering its multivariable background, further studies with larger populations can confirm current results and clarify etiologies of panic disorder.

Keywords

panic disorder - genetics - epigenetics - polymorphisms - GWAS


Publication History

Received: 08 January 2018

Accepted: 02 July 2018

Article published online:
10 May 2021

© 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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