title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and electroconvulsive therapy in a schizophrenic patient with treatment-resistant paranoid-hallucinatory symptoms.
abstract: It has been proposed that deficits in the production and the utilization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. At the same time, electroconvulsive shock, an experimental model of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), has been shown to induce an increase of BDNF protein in brains of animal models. These findings suggest that one putative mechanism of action of ECT is the regulation of BDNF and/or related neurotrophins. In this case report, a 54-year-old man with severe treatment-resistant schizophrenic symptoms was treated with ECT. To evaluate the effect of ECT on BDNF serum levels, we collected a blood sample before each ECT session. During the course of ECT treatment, the paranoid and hallucinatory symptoms gradually improved, whereas BDNF levels increased over time. In addition, there was a general improvement of its positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms and depressive state. In conclusion, this case report further validates the therapeutic efficacy of ECT in schizophrenic patients with inadequate or poor response to traditional treatments. Moreover, ECT therapeutic effect is associated with an increase in BDNF serum levels. Further studies are needed to characterize the relationship between BDNF and ECT in schizophrenic patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Nicola
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bria
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor