Predicting psychosocial intervention response from baseline gene expression

Itay Ricon-Becker, Taylor N. West, Barbara L. Fredrickson, Deanna M. Kaplan, Matthias R. Mehl, Charles L. Raison, Steve W. Cole

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

To address the challenge of predicting psychological response to a psychosocial intervention we tested the possibility that baseline gene expression profiles might provide information above and beyond baseline psychometric measures. The genomics strategy utilized individual level inferences of transcription factor activity to predict changes in loneliness and affect in response to two well-established meditation interventions. Initial algorithm development analyses focused on three a-priori defined stress-related gene regulation pathways (CREB, GR, and NF-ĸB) as inferred from TELiS promoter-based bioinformatic analysis of basal (pre-intervention) blood samples from a randomized-controlled trial comparing a compassion-based meditation (CM, n = 45) with mindfulness meditation (MM, n = 44). Greater baseline CREB activity (but not GR or NF-ĸB) predicted greater reductions from pre- to post-intervention in loneliness (b = −0.24, p = 0.016) and negative emotions (b = −0.23, p = 0.017) for CM, but not for MM. A second algorithm validation analysis applied the same approach to another randomized controlled trial comparing CM (n = 42) with MM (n = 38) and a health education control condition (n = 41). Similarly, greater baseline CREB activity predicted greater pre- to post-intervention decreases in loneliness (b = −0.24, p = 0.029) and greater increases in satisfaction with life (b = 0.21, p = 0.046) for the CM condition only. Baseline CREB activity was not associated with baseline psychometric measures in either study. Results raise the possibility that pre-intervention gene expression profiles may reflect non-conscious psychobiological states that affect psychological responses to distinct psychosocial interventions, and thereby help personalize intervention selection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)331-339
Number of pages9
JournalBrain, Behavior, and Immunity
Volume121
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA)
  • Personalized Psychotherapy
  • Psychiatry
  • Social Genomics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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