Wednesday's Bipolar Abstract:
Serum brain-derived neurotrophic
factor levels in patients with major depression: Effects of
antidepressants
Tiao-Lai Huang, Chien-Te
Lee, and Yu-Li Liu
From the Department of
Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital–Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang
Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and the Division
of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial
Hospital–Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of
Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Objective: This study tried
to investigate the relationships between serum brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels and major depressive patients
and discuss the effects of antidepressants on the serum BDNF protein
levels.
Methods:
A total of 218 participants, including 111 patients with major
depression (91 women) and 107 healthy controls (65 women), were
recruited in this study. Serum BDNF protein levels were measured using
an ELISA kit. Psychiatric diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV
criteria. Severity of major depression was assessed by the 17-item
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
Results:
Using analysis of covariance with age adjustment, there were
significantly low serum BDNF protein levels in depressive patients than
healthy controls in women (F = 7.530, p = 0.007), but not in men.
Additionally, changes in serum BDNF protein levels were significantly
increased in 79 patients taking antidepressants during a period of 4
weeks (t = 2.116, p = 0.038), especially in 61 women (t = 2.542, p =
0.014). Age-adjusted ANCOVA revealed no significant differences in serum
BDNF protein levels between 58 responders and 21 non-responders (F =
0.008, P = 0.928). In responders, there were significantly increased
changes in serum BDNF protein levels in 44 women (t = 2.501, p = 0.016),
but not in 14 men (t = −0.767, p = 0.457).
Conclusions: These analytical results suggest that low
serum BDNF may play an important role in depressive women and
antidepressant treatment significantly increase serum BDNF. However,
further studies of larger populations are necessary to confirm these
results and further elucidate the effects of different classes of
antidepressants on serum BDNF protein levels.
Source:
Journal of Psychiatric Research
2008; 2 (7): 521-525
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Other
bipolar Links:
Juvenile Bipolar
Research Foundation
Child and Adolescent
Bipolar Foundation
Depression and
Bipolar
Support Alliance
NIMH Child and
Adolescent Mental Health
International Society for Bipolar Disorders
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