The role of fkbp5 genotype in moderating long-term effectiveness of exposure-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder

The role of fkbp5 genotype in moderating long-term effectiveness of exposure-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder

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ABSTRACT Exposure-based therapies are considered the state-of-the-art treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Yet, a substantial number of PTSD patients do not recover after


therapy. In the light of the well-known gene × environment interactions on the _risk_ for PTSD, research on individual genetic factors that influence _treatment success_ is warranted. The


gene encoding FK506-binding protein 51 (_FKBP5_), a co-chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), has been associated with stress reactivity and PTSD risk. As _FKBP5_ single-nucleotide


polymorphism rs1360780 has a putative functional role in the regulation of _FKBP5_ expression and GR sensitivity, we hypothesized that this polymorphism influences PTSD treatment success. We


investigated the effects of _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype on Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) outcome, an exposure-based short-term therapy, in a sample of 43 survivors of the rebel war in


Northern Uganda. PTSD symptom severity was assessed before and 4 and 10 months after treatment completion. At the 4-month follow-up, there were no genotype-dependent differences in therapy


outcome. However, the _FKBP5_ genotype significantly moderated the long-term effectiveness of exposure-based psychotherapy. At the 10-month follow-up, carriers of the rs1360780 risk (T)


allele were at increased risk of symptom relapse, whereas non-carriers showed continuous symptom reduction. This effect was reflected in a weaker treatment effect size (Cohen’s _D_=1.23) in


risk allele carriers compared with non-carriers (Cohen’s _D_=3.72). Genetic factors involved in stress response regulation seem to not only influence PTSD risk but also responsiveness to


psychotherapy and could hence represent valuable targets for accompanying medication. SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS EPIGENETICS OF TRAUMATIC STRESS: THE ASSOCIATION OF _NR3C1_


METHYLATION AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER SYMPTOM CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO NARRATIVE EXPOSURE THERAPY Article Open access 19 January 2023 LONGITUDINAL GENOME-WIDE METHYLATION STUDY OF PTSD


TREATMENT USING PROLONGED EXPOSURE AND HYDROCORTISONE Article Open access 13 July 2021 EPIGENETIC BIOTYPES OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN WAR-ZONE EXPOSED VETERAN AND ACTIVE DUTY


MALES Article Open access 18 December 2020 INTRODUCTION Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common mental health condition in the aftermath of traumatic stress. PTSD prevalence


rates depend on cumulative trauma exposure1 and converge around 8% in the United States,2,3 whereas the disorder occurrence is much higher in post-conflict settings.4 Without treatment, PTSD


may take a chronic course,1 associated with severe impairments in daily functioning, higher risk of physical illness5,6 and suicidality.7 However, even when treated with exposure-based


psychotherapy, considered to be the most effective treatment for PTSD,8,9 a substantial proportion of survivors does not recover.10 Therefore, the identification of individual factors that


influence PTSD treatment success is of utmost scientific and clinical importance. The formation of strong fear memories of traumatic experiences11 and a failure to extinguish the associated


reactions to trauma reminders12 are thought to be the key processes of PTSD development. Hence, exposure-based treatments aim at the modification of fear memories through extinction


learning.13 The heritability of PTSD susceptibility after trauma is ~30–40%,14,15 and studies investigating gene × environment interactions have identified several memory-related genetic


factors that moderate the influence of cumulative trauma exposure on PTSD risk.16 Hence, the response to exposure-based PTSD treatments might be also moderated by particular genetic variants


that are implicated in memory processes. To date, two studies identified genetic variations of the serotonin transporter gene17 as well as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor18 as genetic


modulators of PTSD treatment outcome. Hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis regulation has been implicated in the etiology of stress-related disorders such as PTSD.19 The release of


glucocorticoids facilitates the mobilization of resources for a fight or a flight response. Concurrently, binding of cortisol to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is critical to terminate the


stress reaction via negative feedback.20 Hence, the functioning of the GR is necessary for an adequate stress response regulation. Several chaperones and co-chaperones, including


FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5), modulate GR sensitivity. Binding of FKBP5 to the GR reduces its cortisol-binding capacity and prevents nuclear translocation,21,22 which leads to impaired


negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis and a prolonged stress response. Interestingly, _FKBP5_ gene expression can be triggered by cortisol via intronic


glucocorticoid response elements.23 Binding of cortisol to GRs leads to a rapid increase in _FKBP5_ expression, which in turn reduces GR sensitivity—an ultrashort negative feedback loop of


GR sensitivity.24 Therefore, traumatic stress and subsequent increased cortisol release could lead to enhanced _FKBP5_ gene expression and reduced GR sensitivity.25 As glucocorticoid


signaling can influence the risk of PTSD26,27 and is known to have an important role in fear memory formation and extinction,28,29 genetic variability of _FKBP5_ may influence PTSD


vulnerability as well as responsiveness to trauma-focused treatments. The _FKBP5_ gene, located on the short arm of chromosome 6, harbors several common polymorphisms in high linkage


disequilibrium, found to be associated with different psychological disorders.25 Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1360780 is located closest to a functional glucocorticoid response


element and has a putative functional role in the regulation of _FKBP5_ expression and GR sensitivity.30 In healthy individuals, the risk (T) allele was associated with higher _FKBP5_


expression31 and relatively reduced GR sensitivity32 as well as impaired recovery of cortisol levels in response to stress33,34 (but see also Mahon _et al._35). Furthermore, the T allele


predicted enhanced risk for depression, albeit with inconsistent findings,31,36, 37, 38 elevated probability of anxiety disorder development39 and higher suicide risk.40 Most important in


this context, _FKBP5_ genotype was also found to be associated with peritraumatic dissociation, a strong risk factor for subsequent PTSD development,41 as well as with PTSD risk.32 The


latter study investigated four _FKBP5_ polymorphisms, including rs1360780, and found the highest PTSD probability in individuals with the risk genotype who had experienced physical and


sexual child abuse. Xie _et al._42 confirmed the _FKBP5_ genotype × environment interaction effect only for one of the four SNPs investigated (rs9470080) in an African American sample. An


extension study of the original study of Binder and colleagues30 replicated the interaction effect of rs1360780 and childhood trauma on current PTSD. Interestingly, rs1360780 risk allele


carrier status was associated with a differential chromatin conformation, which promotes higher _FKBP5_ gene expression in response to early stress. Furthermore, risk allele carriers who


experienced childhood trauma showed elevated DNA demethylation near and at functional glucocorticoid response elements of the _FKBP5_ gene, further enhancing _FKBP5_ gene expression in


response to GR activation.30 Yet, in contrast to healthy subjects, _FKBP5_ risk genotype carriers with PTSD show lower _FKBP5_ gene expression43 and enhanced GR sensitivity compared with


non-carriers,32,44 a finding that is in accordance with cumulative evidence of GR hypersensitivity in PTSD.26 Summing up, rs1360780, a putative functional SNP of the _FKBP5_ gene,30 has been


shown to effect—in a PTSD disease status-dependent manner—_FKBP5_ gene expression and GR sensitivity. This is the first study to investigate whether _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype modulates


treatment outcome of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), an exposure-based short-term trauma-therapeutic treatment approach especially developed for the context of mass conflict and organized


violence.45 The efficacy of NET for the treatment of PTSD symptoms has been previously shown in multiple settings,46 including the post-war context of Northern Uganda.47 We hypothesized that


carriers of rs1360780 risk (T) allele would benefit less from treatment with NET. MATERIALS AND METHODS SUBJECTS Participants were survivors of the rebel war led by the Lord’s Resistance


Army in Northern Uganda, who had experienced numerous atrocities, including abductions and forced recruitment into the rebel forces, mutilations, forced participation in combats, killings


and sexual violence. The recruitment for the present study took place in the former Internal Displaced People camps Anaka, Pabbo and Koch Goma. Inclusion criteria were (1) a diagnosis of


PTSD according to DSM-IV, (2) age between 18 and 65, (3) absence of any signs of alcohol or substance dependence, (4) absence of psychotic symptoms, (5) no psychotropic medication and (6) no


prior trauma-focused psychotherapy. Fifty-three subjects were enrolled in the study and received treatment with NET by trained local counselors under the supervision of clinical experts in


the field of trauma therapy. Chip-based genotyping was impossible for four individuals because of low DNA concentrations, and one further participant was excluded after genotyping quality


control. In addition, three participants were excluded from the present study because of discontinuation of therapy (_N_=1, rs1360780 genotype=C/T), unavailability for both follow-up


interviews (_N_=1, genotype=C/C) and an extraordinary strength of flashbacks, which required that a clinical expert resumed the treatment (_N_=1, genotype=C/C). In the latter case, the


therapy was completed successfully; however, comparability to the other treatments conducted by trained local counselors was no longer given. Individuals who we could only trace for one


follow-up assessment (only 4 months, _N_=1, genotype=C/C; only 10 months, _N_=1, genotype=T/T) were still included in the analyses. Finally, chip-based genotyping of _FKBP5_ rs1360780 failed


for two participants. Hence, results are reported on a final sample of _N_=43 (29 females, mean age=31.91, s.d.=9.49, rs1360780 genotype C/C=13, C/T=15, T/T=15). PROCEDURE Clinical


interviews were conducted before treatment (t1) and 4 and 10 months (t2 and t3, respectively) after treatment completion. Current PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity were assessed in a


structured interview based on the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS).48 A 62-item event list, adapted for the context of the Lord’s Resistance Army war, cf.49 was employed to assess the


number of experienced traumatic event types (traumatic load). We assessed suicidal risk utilizing the respective section of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.).50


Local interviewers who attended 6 weeks of training on the concepts of clinical interviews, quantitative data collection and PTSD conducted the interviews. The instruments were translated


into the local language (Luo) followed by blind back-translations, group discussions and corrections by independent translators. Retest reliability and validity (consistency with expert


ratings) of the psychological assessment by trained local interviewers were previously investigated and revealed good psychometric quality.51 Participants provided saliva samples in the


first diagnostic interview using Oragene Self Collection Kits (DNA Genothek, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). SNP-based genotyping was performed according to the Genome-Wide Human SNP Nsp/Sty 6.0


User Guide (Affymetrix Inc, Santa Clara, CA, USA). SNP rs1360780 is represented on the array (SNP ID: SNP_A-8589266). Genetic quality control was performed in PLINK v1.07.52 TREATMENT The


study participants received an average of 12 sessions of NET. Sessions took place twice a week and generally lasted between 90 and 120 min. In brief, the aim of NET is to reconstruct the


survivor’s life story with a particular focus on traumatic stressors. The first session comprises psychoeducation and serves to obtain a biographical overview of the client’s life. The


subsequent sessions involve exposure therapy to the most severe traumatic experiences in chronological order and the last session comprises the re-reading of the narrated life story.45


Intensively trained local counselors performed the therapies under the supervision of expert psychologists. Treatment adhesion was monitored in case discussions, weekly supervision meetings


as well as via reviews of detailed case documentations. After a detailed explanation of the study protocol participants gave written informed consent. All procedures followed the Declaration


of Helsinki and were approved by the Institutional Review Board of Gulu University, Uganda, the Ugandan National Council for Science and Technology and the ethics committee of the German


Psychological Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie). STATISTICS Statistical analyses were performed in the statistical environment R 3.0.2.53 Demographic and clinical data of the


genotype groups were compared using Fisher’s exact test for count data and one-factorial analyses of variance (ANOVA) for continuous data. If ANOVA residuals were non-normally distributed, a


non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis H test was employed. The effect of _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype on treatment outcome was evaluated by fitting linear mixed effect models (R package nlme


3.1-111).54 PDS score was defined as the outcome variable, genotype as a between-subject fixed factor, time as a within-subject repeated fixed factor and participants as a random effect,


with random intercepts for each participant. The correlations of the repeated measurements within participants were modeled with a general correlation structure,55,56 and the maximum


likelihood estimation method was employed to fit the model. In the model selection procedure, we fitted nested models of increasing complexity and compared their goodness-of-fit. The initial


analysis was performed including only time and _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype as predictors. Next, we analyzed whether a genotype model, comparing the three rs1360780 genotype groups (C/C, C/T


and T/T), or a risk allele carrier model, combining C/T and T/T genotypes in one group, represented the data best. As traumatic load is known to strongly influence PTSD symptomatology,1 and


_FKBP5_ gene × environment interactions have been observed previously,30,32 further analyses were performed with and without traumatic load as a covariate, and with and without allowing for


potential time × _ FKBP5_ genotype × traumatic load interaction effects. In addition, it was evaluated whether the inclusion of the covariates sex and age would improve model fit. As


recommended by Burnham and Anderson,57 model selection was based on Akaike’s Information Criterion, which has a profound information-theoretic foundation and aims at minimizing the expected


Kullback–Leibler divergence between the model and the true underlying data-generating process. We expected T allele carriers to benefit less from NET treatment, which would result in a


significant time × _FKBP5_ rs1360780 interaction. More specifically, we hypothesized that the difference between the pretreatment PDS score (time point t1) and the follow-up PDS scores (time


points t2 or t3) would be higher in individuals with the protective genotype (C/C) than in carriers of the T (risk) allele. We tested this specific hypothesis by evaluating the statistical


significance of planned contrasts while adjusting for multiple comparisons (R package multcomp 1.3-1).58 RESULTS _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype groups showed no differences in age, gender


distribution, traumatic load, number of NET sessions, PTSD symptom severity, PTSD symptom scores and suicidality before treatment (Table 1). Confirming our main hypothesis, we found a


significant time × _ FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype interaction effect. This effect was present in every estimated linear mixed effect model. Our successive model selection procedure strongly


suggested that a risk allele carrier model, including traumatic load and sex as covariates, represented the data best (Table 2). We therefore report statistical inference from this model.


The selected model revealed a significant treatment effect (main effect time, F2,80=96.84, _P_<0.001), no significant main _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype effect, but a significant time × _ 


FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype interaction effect (F2,80=5.40, _P_=0.006, Figure 1). Furthermore, the two included covariates, traumatic load (F1,39=18.42, _P_<0.001) and sex (F1,39=6.08,


_P_=0.018) significantly predicted PTSD symptom severity. To further examine the nature of the time × _ FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype interaction effect, we next calculated three planned


orthogonal contrasts while adjusting P-values for multiple testing. There was no genotype-dependent difference in treatment success rates 4 months after treatment (comparison t1–t2). Yet, 10


months after the end of the treatment (comparison t1–t3), non-carriers of the risk allele had significantly higher symptom improvements than risk allele carriers (_Z_=3.37, _P_<0.001,


Figure 1). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the symptom development between the two follow-up assessments (difference t2–t3); whereas risk allele carriers had a greater


risk for symptom relapse, non-carriers continued to show symptom improvements (_Z_=2.71, _P_=0.009, Figure 1). To obtain a better understanding of the substantial main effect of traumatic


load, we plotted the fitted values of the PDS score against traumatic load separately for the three time points and genotype groups (Figure 2). We observed a dose-dependent relationship


between traumatic load and PDS score at all time points, yet T allele carriers showed a higher intercept 10 months post treatment. We next analyzed the clinical significance of the genotype


effect on therapy outcome by investigating the mean change scores between the 10-month follow-up and the pretreatment assessment, as well as the treatment effect sizes for each genotype


group. Both genotype groups presented with large treatment effects according to the conventions of Cohen; however, for individuals with the protective (C/C) genotype the treatment effect


size was approximately three times higher than for carries of the risk allele (Table 3). Furthermore, 10 months after treatment, no individual in the C/C genotype group fulfilled the


diagnosis of PTSD, whereas 43% of T allele carriers still met the diagnostic criteria according to DSM-IV (Table 3). Finally, we exploratively investigated whether genotype differences in


treatment success would be also reflected in the three PTSD symptom clusters and suicidality risk. T Allele carriers scored higher on all variables 10 months after treatment (Table


3,Supplementary Figures S1 and 2). These effects resulted in a significant rs1360780 × time interaction for avoidance (F2,80=5.74, _P_=0.005) and hyperarousal symptoms (F2,80=4.65,


_P_=0.012), but not for intrusion symptoms (F2,80=2.10, _P_=0.130). The interaction was marginally significant for the outcome suicidality (F2,80=3.06, _P_=0.053). DISCUSSION Confirming our


hypothesis, we found a significant effect of _FKBP5_ rs1360780 genotype on therapeutic outcome of NET. This effect was present at 10 months, but not 4 months after treatment completion,


indicating that the _FKBP5_ genotype predominantly influences long-term therapeutic outcome. Psychotherapy—in contrast to pharmacological treatment—initializes a process of recovery that


continues over time. Confirming this, evidence from Northern Uganda shows that NET treatment effects increase over time (that is, treatment effects assessed 1 year after therapy completion


were more pronounced than 6 months post treatment).47 Hence, genetic variants that are linked to psychotherapeutic outcome should show stronger effects on the long-term course of symptoms


rather than on immediate psychotherapeutic outcomes. This is in line with the findings of Bryant _et al._,17 reporting a moderating influence of genetic variation at the serotonin


transporter locus on trauma therapy outcome at the follow-up assessment, but not immediately post treatment. The empirical data favored a risk allele carrier model: carriers of one or two


copies of the T allele showed enhanced risk for symptom relapse 10 months after treatment, whereas individuals with the protective C/C genotype showed continuous symptom improvement. The


genotype effect had significant clinical implications: individuals with the protective genotype had three times higher treatment effect sizes than risk allele carriers. Whereas 43% of risk


allele carriers fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of PTSD, the entire C/C genotype group showed clinical remission 10 months post treatment. In addition, the strong effect of the _FKBP5_


genotype on treatment success was descriptively reflected in all PTSD symptom clusters as well as in suicidality, with significant effects on the avoidance and hyperarousal symptom cluster.


Hence, trauma-related symptoms of distress and arousal seem to be more resistant to modification through trauma-focused therapy in carriers of the rs1360780 T allele. How might _FKBP5_


rs1360780 genotype influence psychotherapy success? Extensive evidence indicates that the stress hormone cortisol facilitates memory formation, impairs retrieval and enhances memory


extinction processes.28 Both the formation of traumatic memories and their modification through psychotherapy rely on learning and memory processes: whereas fear conditioning is thought to


be responsible for the onset of PTSD, extinction learning is the basis of exposure therapy.16 Indeed, stress and associated elevated cortisol levels increase extinction memory


consolidation,59 and the administration of glucocorticoids enhances the effects of exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.60, 61, 62 Accordingly, _FKBP5_ genotype might influence the initial


fear memory strength as well as the process of extinction learning. The _FKBP5_ rs1360780 T allele is characterized by a different three-dimensional structure of the _FKBP5_ gene, which


allows direct interaction between the glucocorticoid response element at intron 2 and the promoter region.30 This leads to higher _FKBP5_ induction by glucocorticoids, reduced GR sensitivity


and consequently to a prolonged cortisol response following stress exposure.30 This corresponds well with findings of reduced GR sensitivity32,44 and enhanced cortisol responses to stress


in healthy individuals carrying the high induction risk allele.33,34 Furthermore, higher _FKBP5_ mRNA expression in peripheral blood hours after the traumatic experience predicted PTSD


symptom development in survivors 4 months later.63 However, the described relationship between _FKBP5_ risk genotype, higher _FKBP5_ expression, relative GR resistance and prolonged cortisol


response seems to be only valid for PTSD-unaffected individuals. In contrast, carriers of the _FKBP5_ risk genotype with PTSD show enhanced GR sensitivity compared with non-carriers,32,44


corresponding well to repeated findings of GR supersensitivity in PTSD.26 In addition, lower _FKBP5_ gene expression has been reported in individuals with PTSD,43,64,65 and was associated


with _FKBP5_ risk genotype.43 Furthermore, two recent studies reported an increase in _FKBP5_ gene expression as a marker for successful exposure-based trauma therapy,65,66 which was


accompanied by an increase in plasma cortisol in one of the studies.66 In line with these findings, cortisol administration has been shown to improve exposure therapy success60, 61, 62 and


to reduce symptoms in PTSD.67 The present study is the first to show that the _FKBP5_ genotype modulates psychotherapeutic outcome. Reasons for the reduced long-term therapeutic benefits in


risk allele carriers may include stronger stress reactions at the time of trauma and hence stronger memories of the encountered traumata, which are more resistant to modification. On the


other hand, initial evidence indicates that once PTSD is developed, _FKBP5_ risk genotype may be associated with higher GR sensitivity and hence a rapid reduction in cortisol levels


following stress.32,44 Assuming that exposure to the traumatic experiences during psychotherapy triggers the stress response, a shortened cortisol response may impair the process of


extinction learning or extinction memory consolidation,28 which could explain the resurgence of symptoms in T allele carriers. We did not find a three-way interaction effect of time, _FKBP5_


genotype and traumatic load. In other words, genotype influenced the symptom improvement following NET; however, this effect was not moderated by traumatic load. Instead, the number of


traumatic events experienced increased PTSD symptom severity at all time points. This result replicates earlier findings of a dose-dependent effect of traumatic load on PTSD symptom


severity1,68 and extends them by illustrating that higher trauma load also leads to higher PTSD symptoms after treatment. Several explanations may account for the lack of an interaction


effect. First of all, genetic risk × trauma exposure interaction effects might be more central to the onset of PTSD than to its treatment. However, our results do not exclude the possibility


of an interaction with childhood trauma, which was found in previous investigations.30,32,69 Our trauma questionnaire only includes four items of experienced or witnessed physical childhood


abuse and we did not find any interaction effect with this assessment of childhood trauma. A more detailed assessment of childhood trauma and the investigation of a larger sample with


greater variations in childhood trauma might be required to detect potential interactions. The relatively small sample size clearly represents a limitation of this study, as it prevents the


assessment of potential underlying population stratification. Replication studies with much larger samples are warranted to confirm the moderating role of _FKBP5_ on trauma therapy outcome.


Nevertheless, this investigation provides initial evidence of a strong effect of the _FKBP5_ genotype that influences long-term treatment outcome at all investigated levels of traumatic


load. What do these results imply for PTSD treatment development? According to a meta-analysis performed by Bradley _et al._10 approximately one-third of clients treated with exposure-based


therapies still meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Comparable rates (32%) were found 12 months after treatment with NET in survivors of the Lord’s Resistance Army war in Northern Uganda.47


Similarly, 31% of our total study population still met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD 10 months after treatment completion; however, all of them were carriers of the _FKBP5_ rs1360780 T allele.


Given the strong effects of the _FKBP5_ genotype on treatment outcome in this study, in combination with the central role of FKBP5 in the regulation of the stress response, this molecule


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a drug target. _ChemMedChem_ 2012; 7: 1351–1359. Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was funded by a grant of the German Research


Foundation (DFG) awarded to ITK, DQ and AP (D-CH programme), by a doctoral scholarship of the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes) awarded to SW and by


the Swiss National Science Foundation (Sinergia grant CRSI33_130080 to DQ and AP). We would like to thank the team of Ugandan therapists for conducting therapies and diagnostic interviews of


highest quality, and for their commitment, empathy and professionalism in the work with traumatized survivors. We thank the non-governmental organization _vivo international_ for the


fruitful cooperation. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute for Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany S Wilker &


 I-T Kolassa * Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz,, Konstanz, Germany A Pfeiffer, T Elbert & B Lingenfelder * SAP Switzerland AG,, Tägerwilen, Switzerland S


Kolassa * Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda E Ovuga * Division of Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland A Papassotiropoulos * Division of Cognitive


Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland D de Quervain Authors * S Wilker View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * A Pfeiffer View


author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * S Kolassa View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * T Elbert


View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * B Lingenfelder View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * E


Ovuga View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * A Papassotiropoulos View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google


Scholar * D de Quervain View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * I-T Kolassa View author publications You can also search for this author


inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to S Wilker. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no conflict of interest. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


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Wilker, S., Pfeiffer, A., Kolassa, S. _et al._ The role of _FKBP5_ genotype in moderating long-term effectiveness of exposure-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. _Transl


Psychiatry_ 4, e403 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2014.49 Download citation * Received: 13 March 2014 * Revised: 29 April 2014 * Accepted: 22 May 2014 * Published: 24 June 2014 * Issue


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