Peer-reviewed article
When Trauma Crosses Generations: Mechanisms, Clinical Patterns and Therapeutic Implications of Transgenerational Trauma-A Systematic Review.
Froń O, Chwesiuk K, Jabłonka D, Kułak-Bejda A ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This systematic review examines how trauma experienced by parents can affect their children through biological, psychological, and environmental mechanisms, even when children have not directly experienced trauma themselves. The review identifies DNA methylation changes, cortisol dysregulation, and impaired parental reflective functioning as key pathways for trauma transmission across generations. The authors conclude that understanding ancestral trauma history is important for personalized psychiatric treatment in affected individuals.
Key points
- DNA methylation patterns in the NR3C1 gene and accelerated biological aging (GrimAge) identified in offspring of trauma-exposed parents
- Impaired parental reflective functioning and mentalization identified as major psychological mechanisms of trauma transmission
- Trauma effects demonstrated across three generations, manifesting as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and neuroendocrine dysregulation
- Low cortisol levels observed as a biomarker of transgenerational trauma impact
- Epigenetic mechanisms identified as central to understanding intergenerational trauma transmission
Limitations
This systematic review focuses on adult offspring rather than children experiencing these effects in real time, and does not evaluate specific interventions for reducing transgenerational trauma transmission or improving outcomes in affected children.
Abstract
Background Transgenerational trauma (TT)/Intergenerational trauma (IT) is the transmission of the effects of traumatic experiences of parents to their children, who have not themselves experienced traumatic events. This transmission occurs through neurobiological and metabolic changes and the environment in which they were raised. Methods A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched from 2005 to 2025. Studies focusing on adult offspring, exposure to ancestral trauma, biological markers (DNA methylation, cortisol), and psychological outcomes were included. Results The main study results are as follows: identification of sex-specific DNA methylation patterns in the NR3C1 gene and accelerated biological aging (GrimAge) in offspring; role of parental reflective functioning (PRF) and impaired mentalization as major psychological channels of trauma transmission; and evidence confirming the impact on three generations, manifested by treatment-resistant depressive disorders, anxiety, and neuroendocrine dysregulation (low cortisol levels). Conclusions This article highlights the intergenerational impact of trauma and highlights its epigenetic significance. The primary goal was to explore universal epigenetic mechanisms. Early understanding of ancestral history is crucial for personalized psychiatric care.