Increased plasma concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with electroconvulsive therapy: a pilot study in patients with major depression.
OBJECTIVE
The therapeutic mechanism of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is unknown. Animal research supports a neurotrophic effect of ECT. To investigate a neurotrophic effect in humans, we examined whether plasma concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increases in patients receiving ECT for major depression.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective, self-controlled study of 15 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive episode who were referred for ECT at the University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore, Md.) between January 2004 and September 2005. Plasma BDNF concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and during an acute course of ECT. Depression severity was measured using the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D).


RESULTS
ECT resulted in a significant increase in plasma BDNF (Z = 2.897, p = .004) from a pre-ECT median of 84.9 pg/mL to a post-ECT median of 141.2 pg/mL. This change was accompanied by a significant decrease in HAM-D score (Z = 3.411, p = .001) from a pre-ECT median of 30.0 to a post-ECT median of 9.0. BDNF increased in 13 (86.7%) of 15 subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of an increase in plasma BDNF concentration in patients receiving ECT. These preliminary results encourage further investigation of a neurotrophic mechanism for the antidepressant effect of ECT.
Marano
Christopher M
CM
Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Phatak
Pornima
P
Vemulapalli
Ugandhar Rao
UR
Sasan
Amritpal
A
Nalbandyan
Maria R
MR
Ramanujam
Sailakshmi
S
Soekadar
Surjo
S
Demosthenous
Maria
M
Regenold
William T
WT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor