370 | id == 370
370 | category_id == 22
370 | category_order == 19
370 | category_name == Trauma
370 | category_color == #C47AC0
370 | slug == DRD2-PTSD
370 | title == The Dopamine System in Post Traumatic Stress (DRD2)
370 | meta_description == DRD2 encodes a type of dopamine receptor that affects cognition and anxiety. What is its complex relationship to PTSD?
370 | summary == <p><strong><em>DRD2 </em>encodes a type of dopamine receptor that affects cognition and anxiety. What is its complex relationship to PTSD? Read on to learn more.</strong></p>
370 | overall_score_text == Your PTSD Score (based on DRD2)
370 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/DRD2-ANKK1-PTSD.jpg
370 | author_id == 1
370 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
370 | author_title == BSc, BEd
370 | author_order == 36
370 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
370 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
370 | reviewer == None
370 | medical_reviewer == None
370 | publish_date == 2020
370 | publish_date == 9
370 | publish_date == 30
370 | avg_rating == 5.0
370 | tags_id == 112
370 | tags_name == Anxiety
370 | tags_id == 51
370 | tags_name == Dopamine
370 | tags_id == 156
370 | tags_name == DRD2 Gene
370 | tags_id == 741
370 | tags_name == Fear
370 | tags_id == 6
370 | tags_name == PTSD
370 | tags_id == 50
370 | tags_name == Stress
370 | permissions_favorite == False
370 | permissions_rate == False
370 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summary</span></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a type of dopamine receptor. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in PTSD by changing the intensity of dopamine signals in the brain. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by normalizing dopamine signalling.</span></p> <h2><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and PTSD</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The <a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/drd2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DRD2</a> gene encodes a </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/dopamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dopamine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> receptor. Dopamine, which is important for signalling pleasure and reward, can also reduce the sensation of pain and reduce anxiety and fear [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/DRD2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18457535/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4866581/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because dopamine is highly involved in many processes that are critical for proper cognitive function, SNPs in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene can significantly impact cognitive ability and mental health [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10611493"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24713612"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4839917/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883923/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The major factor connecting the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is DRD2 receptor density: that is, how many receptors of this type are present on any given dopamine neuron [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5936991/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dopamine receptor density interacts with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/worrier-warrior-explaining-rs4680comt-v158m-gene/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an enzyme that breaks down dopamine, to produce overall susceptibility to PTSD. For people with high COMT, low DRD2 density is potentially harmful; for people with low </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/article/boost-your-cognitive-ability-with-comt-22"><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, high DRD2 density is potentially harmful [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5936991/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Higher COMT is more common than low COMT, so for most people, low DRD2 density is more likely to be detrimental. However, you should </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/search/comt/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">check your COMT gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to be sure how DRD2 will affect you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">DRD2 encodes a type of dopamine receptor that affects cognition and anxiety. When COMT enzyme activity is low, high DRD2 density may increase susceptibility to PTSD. By contrast, when COMT is high, low DRD2 may increase susceptibility.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Results for PTSD</span></h2> <p>*4842791331303919*</p> <p><strong>DRD2 </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1800497/"><strong>rs1800497</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Higher than average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele appears to reduce the density of DRD2 receptors, increasing susceptibility to PTSD for people with high COMT [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5936991/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>DRD2 </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs6277/"><strong>rs6277</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Possibly protective against PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele may increase dopamine signalling [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18833581/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>DRD2 </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs12364283/"><strong>rs12364283</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Higher than average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may decrease dopamine signalling [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883923/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>DRD2 </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs7131056/"><strong>rs7131056</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Possibly protective against PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele may increase dopamine signalling [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26363619/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>DRD2 </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs2075652/"><strong>rs2075652</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Higher than average rates of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele may decrease dopamine signalling [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26363619/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p>*5173989471928504*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations for Improving PTSD Symptoms</span></h2> <p>*6420780481507735*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yoga &amp; Meditation</span></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yoga</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and other forms of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> have a natural </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-relieving effect which may work in part by improving dopamine signalling [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27537781"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5939561/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26752098/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4769029/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A yoga program called trauma-sensitive yoga has been associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-depression/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">depression</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and anxiety in people with PTSD [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27502798"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5393408/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28747121/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26133204/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis concluded that the evidence to support yoga for PTSD is encouraging but preliminary due to the low quality of most studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26656487/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Animal-Assisted Therapy</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Animal-assisted therapy is a strategy in which therapy animals&mdash;often dogs or horses&mdash;are used to calm a patient and improve psychological symptoms. Physical human-animal interactions appear to trigger some types of dopamine signalling in the brain, which may partially explain how they work [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408111/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several studies on war veterans with PTSD show that horse-assisted therapy can improve PTSD symptoms [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25782709/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160012/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774121/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24067322/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30839068/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similarly, dog-assisted therapy has been reported to improve PTSD in children [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23194140/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29994814/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Yoga, meditation, and animal-assisted therapy may improve PTSD symptoms through dopamine signalling.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diet</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Soy</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ingesting soybean proteins increased the amount of dopamine in the blood of healthy volunteers [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21872436/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A fermented soy product normalized steroidal hormones in war veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD, leading to improved mental and physical wellness [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25436688/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In rats with PTSD, the soy isoflavone genistein reduced anxiety and prevented chronic stress-induced memory impairment [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28600997/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32267780/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Soybeans may help increase blood dopamine and normalize steroid hormone levels, making them potentially helpful in PTSD.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Supplements</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">NAC</span></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nac-top-43-science-based-health-benefits-n-acetyl-cysteine-nac/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">N-acetylcysteine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (NAC) may improve dopamine signalling and support the health of dopamine neurons [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911055/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small study of combat veterans with PTSD and a history of substance abuse, supplementation with NAC enhanced the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on both PTSD symptoms and substance cravings [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5226873/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study to evaluate the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine for treatment-resistant PTSD is underway [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7409699/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">NAC improved PTSD symptoms in a small study of combat veterans, possibly by improving dopamine signalling.</span></p>
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370 | content_learn_more_5173989471928504_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your DRD2 gene is somewhat associated with PTSD. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of PTSD; it’s just one gene related to it. Certain psychological therapies, soy, and NAC may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs2075652,rs7131056,rs6277,rs12364283,rs1800497,rs4680
rsStatus = rs2075652,DRD2,chr11,113424176,G,A,,,36,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs7131056,DRD2,chr11,113459052,A,C,G,,7,25,HET
rsStatus = rs6277,DRD2,chr11,113412737,G,A,,,21,13,HET
rsStatus = rs12364283,DRD2,chr11,113476233,A,G,,,22,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1800497,ANKK1,chr11,113400106,G,A,,,19,16,HET
rsStatus = rs4680,COMT,chr22,19963748,G,A,,,19,11,HET
