To examine the major risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), assess the interaction of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene rs17209237 and rs41423247 and work stress levels, and provide evidence for screening sensitive populations of PTSD.

The study adopted a case-control design. Patients from tertiary grade A hospitals in Xinjiang diagnosed with PTSD (n=60) were enrolled as the case group, and those who suffered a traumatic event diagnosed in the same period but did not develop to PTSD (n=120) were enrolled as the control group. They were investigated with Job Stress Survey (JSS) and gave informed consent to collect morning fasting venous blood samples (5 mL). GR gene-stress interaction was assessed.

Job stress intensity in the case group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) (OR=6.122), so was the job pressure (P<0.05) (OR=10.543). The frequency of GR gene rs41423247 C/G genotype in the case group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and C allele carrier (GC) was a risk factor for PTSD (OR=2.14, 95%CI: 1.10-4.16). There was a positive multiplication interaction between GR gene rs41423247 mutant type and job pressure (P<0.05) (OR=3.256).

Job stress intensity and job pressure increase the possibility of suffering from PTSD. GR gene rs41423247 locus C allele (GC) increases the possibility of suffering from PTSD. GR gene is a genetic risk factor for PTSD, and the joint action of GR gene rs41423247 and job pressure increases the risk of PTSD.