Research article summary (published 30 Jan 2008):

Decreased levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in both depressed and euthymic patients with unipolar depression and in euthymic patients with bipolar I and II disorders.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a candidate molecule in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorders (BD). Reduced levels of peripheral BDNF have been found in drug-free MDD patients, in drug-treated depressed or manic patients with BD type I (BD-I), but not in drug-treated euthymic BD-I individuals. No study has been done in patients with BD type II (BD-II). Moreover, the influence of Axis I psychiatric comorbidity on circulating BDNF in affective patients has never been evaluated. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed: (i) to confirm previous findings on peripheral BDNF in MDD and BD-I patients; (ii) to assess whether changes in circulating BDNF occur also in patients with BD-II; and (iii) to exclude the possibility that comorbid psychiatric disorders exerted an effect on BDNF levels in affective patients. METHODS: We measured serum BDNF concentrations by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in 85 subjects, including 24 euthymic patients with unipolar depression (UD), 17 euthymic patients with BD-I, 11 euthymic patients with BD-II, 11 UD patients with a current major depressive episode and 22 drug-free healthy controls. At the time of the study, 15 patients were drug-treated; the remaining ones were drug-free for at least four weeks. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, serum BDNF concentrations were significantly reduced in all the patient groups (F(4,80) = 3.840, p = 0.006) with no significant difference among them. Drug treatments and comorbid psychiatric disorders had no effect on lowered circulating BDNF levels in affective patients. CONCLUSIONS: Present results confirm previous independent findings of reduced circulating BDNF in patients with MDD and report, for the first time, decreased serum BDNF levels in euthymic patients with UD, BD-I and BD-II, independently from drug treatment status and concomitant Axis I psychiatric disorders.

Author information

Author/s: Monteleone, P (P); Serritella, C (C); Martiadis, V (V); Maj, M (M);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy. monteri(-atsign-)tin.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Bipolar disorders (Bipolar Disord), published in Denmark. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 10 (issue 1) : pp 95-100

Dates: Created 2008/01/17; Completed 2008/05/30; Revised 2009/04/16;

PMID: 18199246, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 4/16/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Bipolar Disord. 2009 Mar;11(2):221-2; author reply 222-3. (PMID: 19267706)

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adult Bipolar Disorder - blood; classification; complications Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood Depression - blood; complications Female

Female Humans Male Middle Aged Outpatients

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (0)

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• A retrospective and explorative study of hypokalemia in psychiatric disorders: a beta 2-receptor related phenomenon. 30 Dec 1987
• Observations on the blood concentration of thyrotrophic hormone (T.S.H.) in schizophrenia and the affective states. 30 Aug 1969
• Plasma renin activity in primary and secondary depression. 26 Dec 1977
• The relationship of the lithium erythrocyte: plasma ratio to plasma lithium level. 30 Jan 1979
• The diurnal variation of plasma cortisol levels in depression. 30 Aug 1966
• Decreased plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in unmedicated bipolar patients during manic episode. 5 Aug 2006
• Blood-levels of thyrotrophic hormone, protein-bound iodine, and cortisol in schizophrenia and affective states. 28 Nov 1968
• Serum BDNF levels in suicide attempters related to psychosocial stressors: a comparative study with depression. 21 Nov 2007
• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) changes in the serum of depressed women. 30 Apr 2006
• Elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein are associated with mania symptoms in outpatients with bipolar disorder. 4 Mar 2007

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.