BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and that its peripheral levels represent a reliable mirror of its concentration in the brain. The aim of the present study was to measure BDNF plasma levels in patients affected by major depression and to explore the possible relationship between the biological parameter and characteristics of the illness. METHOD: BDNF plasma levels were evaluated in 30 inpatients suffering from major depression, according to DSM-IV criteria, by means of a commonly employed ELISA method. The clinical characteristics were assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale. RESULTS: BDNF plasma levels were significantly lower in the patients with the severest illness compared with the others, and the same was true for patients with dissociative symptoms, severe sleep disturbance and recurrent depression. A significant and negative correlation was observed between the biological parameter and the retardation factor score of the HRSD. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that low BDNF levels are related to both recurrence and severity of depression, as well as to symptoms typical of dysfunctions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and that its peripheral levels represent a reliable mirror of its concentration in the brain. The aim of the present study was to measure BDNF plasma levels in patients affected by major depression and to explore the possible relationship between the biological parameter and characteristics of the illness. METHOD:BDNF plasma levels were evaluated in 30 inpatients suffering from major depression, according to DSM-IV criteria, by means of a commonly employed ELISA method. The clinical characteristics were assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale. RESULTS:BDNF plasma levels were significantly lower in the patients with the severest illness compared with the others, and the same was true for patients with dissociative symptoms, severe sleep disturbance and recurrent depression. A significant and negative correlation was observed between the biological parameter and the retardation factor score of the HRSD. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that low BDNF levels are related to both recurrence and severity of depression, as well as to symptoms typical of dysfunctions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Authors: Anthony J Deo; Yung-yu Huang; Colin A Hodgkinson; Yurong Xin; Maria A Oquendo; Andrew J Dwork; Victoria Arango; David A Brent; David Goldman; J John Mann; Fatemeh Haghighi Journal: Psychiatr Genet Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 2.458
Authors: Anatoly Kreinin; Serah Lisson; Elimelech Nesher; Jenny Schneider; Josef Bergman; Kamal Farhat; Joseph Farah; Flavio Lejbkowicz; Gal Yadid; Leon Raskin; Igor Koman; Albert Pinhasov Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-05-26 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Farzaneh Modarresi; Mohammad Ali Faghihi; Miguel A Lopez-Toledano; Roya Pedram Fatemi; Marco Magistri; Shaun P Brothers; Marcel P van der Brug; Claes Wahlestedt Journal: Nat Biotechnol Date: 2012-03-25 Impact factor: 54.908