In addition to strong genetic correlations with multiple mood and anxiety-related phenotypes (e.g., neuroticism, treatment for depression or anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia), REX symptoms were genetically correlated with hypertension. PTSD has been shown in clinical epidemiological studies to be strongly associated with hypertension (and other cardiovascular disorders),29,30 and these data suggest a shared genetic basis for this comorbidity. Moreover, PTSD patients with clinical or subclinical hypertension might be particularly likely to respond to anti-adrenergic agents such as prazosin, given that this drug does not seem to be broadly effective for all patients with PTSD.31 The present findings suggest that this might be understood in terms of shared genetic risk. Stratifying those patients with PTSD with increased polygenic risk for hypertension might identify a subgroup especially responsive to the anti-PTSD effects of prazosin -- worth testing as the field moves toward a personalized approach to treatment, involving medication repurposing at the forefront of this movement.
