This review aims to systematically assess the current literature about prenatal epigenetic markers that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder susceptibility across the lifespan. Studies included in this review met several research criteria: Studies included (1) participants with a PTSD diagnosis according to the DSM-5, (2) prenatal epigenetic marker data that could be analyzed, and (3) explicit references to postnatal PTSD susceptibility. Our study sample fit within a timeframe of 2002 (the earliest recorded studies of prenatal susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder in the databases used) and February 2021 when the literature search for this review was terminated. Studies for this review were collated from PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, and Boston College School of Social Work Library databases. A systematic search was conducted in these databases using basic keyword terms, such as “PSTD resilience” and “PTSD vulnerability,” and then adding clarifying terms to refine specific searches, such as “epigenetics,” “genetics,” “epigenetic markers,” “haplotypes,” and “mRNA methylation.” Based on these criteria and research methods, 33 studies remained for inclusion in the review sample. This review suggests that BDNF Val66-Met, a polymorphism of FKBP5, and an altered messenger ribonucleic acid methylation marker in NR3C1 present most often in cases of PTSD. These epigenetic markers might be implicated in central neurological processes related to post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology.

本综述旨在系统地评估当前关于导致整个生命周期创伤后应激障碍易感性的产前表观遗传标记的文献。本次综述中纳入的研究符合多项研究标准：研究包括（1）根据 DSM-5 诊断为 PTSD 的参与者，（2）可分析的产前表观遗传标记数据，以及（3）明确提及产后 PTSD 易感性。我们的研究样本符合 2002 年（所用数据库中最早记录的产前创伤后应激障碍易感性研究）和 2021 年 2 月（本综述的文献检索终止）的时间范围。本综述的研究整理自 PubMed、MEDLINE、Science Direct 和波士顿学院社会工作学院图书馆数据库。使用基本关键词术语（例如“PSTD 复原力”和“PTSD 脆弱性”）在这些数据库中进行系统搜索，然后添加澄清术语以细化特定搜索，例如“表观遗传学”、“遗传学”、“表观遗传标记” “单倍型”和“mRNA 甲基化”。根据这些标准和研究方法，仍有 33 项研究可供纳入审查样本。本综述表明，BDNF Val66-Met、FKBP5 的多态性和 NR3C1 中信使核糖核酸甲基化标记物的改变最常出现在 PTSD 病例中。这些表观遗传标记可能与创伤后应激障碍症状相关的中枢神经过程有关。