PTSD is a psychiatric illness that affects the brain after a traumatic experience like war, assault, or losing a loved one. A study of Rwandan genocide survivors found a relationship between higher amounts of trauma exposure and increased likelihood of developing PTSD. The study also identified potential genetic biomarkers linked to PTSD. Researchers have studied the COMT enzyme, which helps process stress chemicals, and found that people with less COMT may have higher stress levels and increased vulnerability to PTSD and other stress-related mental disorders.