Genetics of Stress Responsiveness

Abstract Psychological stress can lead to anxiety disorders and depression, as well as other major health problems including heart disease and disorders of the immune system. There is a strong genetic contribution to how we respond to psychological stress and whether it results in these health problems. However, it is not clear which genes are involved. Human genetic studies on anxiety and depression have had limited success in gene identification for these disorders. Mouse models have also been employed to identify and characterize genes involved in stress responsiveness, with some success. Here, we describe the human and mouse approaches, the results they have achieved to date, and the advantages and shortcomings of each approach.