Childhood Trauma and the Stress Hormone System

Trauma during childhood induces permanent changes to gene regulation putting abused children at high-risk of mood and anxiety disorders. (1)

The stress hormone system may suffer long term changes in DNA methylationn resulting in dysregulation of the stress hormone system.

Genetic predisposition to psychiatric disorders greatly influence the interaction between stress, environment, trauma, and the development of psychiatric illnesses later in life.

Torsten Klengel, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, explains the findings of  research and study on childhood trauma and adult mental illness as follows: 
"Depending on genetic predisposition, childhood trauma can leave permanent epigenetic marks on the DNA, further de-repressing FKBP5 transcription. The consequence is a permanent dysregulation of the victim's stress hormone system, which can ultimately lead to psychiatric illness. Decisive for victims of childhood abuse, however, is that the stress-induced epigenetic changes can only occur if their DNA has a specific sequence."


Sources
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121202164057.htm

http://www.mpg.de/6642993/kindliches-trauma-erbgut