The Environment
When it comes to psychiatric conditions, genes rarely act alone. The environment also plays an important role. Advancing our understanding of the genetics of these conditions can help us understand why some individuals are more vulnerable to environmental stressors than others. Scientists involved with the PGC are also deeply interested in understanding ways in which the environment influences our mental health. The environment always plays some role, but for some of the conditions studied by the PGC, the environment is a necessary part of the illness. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic environmental event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adulthood or childhood. An important question is why some individuals develop PTSD after exposure to a traumatic event, whereas others can recover without long-term effects.
Whilst the environment can sometimes trigger or worsen a condition, it can also serve as a buffer to reduce the risk to individuals who are at high genetic risk. For example, a person who has high genetic risk for depression might find that being surrounded by highly supportive family and friends can help them recover from a loss without developing a depressive episode. Similarly, someone who is genetically at risk for developing a substance use disorder might find that never having that first drink and being in a substance-free relationship protects them from exposures that might trigger an underlying risk for alcohol use disorder.
PGC researchers actively engage in science that explores how both genes and environment act and co-act to influence our mental health.