Do Genes Play a Role in Chronic Pain?

Do Genes Play a Role in Chronic Pain? by September 23rd, 2014 by Pat Anson.

Two new studies are pointing to a genetic link between traumatic events, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

One study found a higher risk for PTSD in soldiers exposed to childhood trauma, while the other found that people who experience trauma while living in low-income neighborhoods are more likely to suffer from musculoskeletal pain. Both studies suggest that trauma can “activate” genes associated with chronic pain.

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• No man is an island: Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood influences chronic pain development after motor vehicle collision, and this effect is moderated by common genetic variation influencing HPA axis function

• Evidence of Genetic Link to PTSD in Soldiers Exposed to Childhood Trauma

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