title: Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentrations in acute schizophrenic patients increase during antipsychotic treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is not only involved in the development, differentiation, and survival of dopaminergic neurons; it also regulates fast neurotransmission and neuronal activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 22 patients with acute schizophrenia and 22 age-matched healthy volunteers were recruited, and BDNF serum concentrations were measured in unmedicated patients and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum levels of unmedicated schizophrenic patients (n = 22; 4.38 ± 2.1 ng/mL) were significantly decreased compared to the age-matched healthy volunteers (n = 44, df = 42, P = 0.029). In a mixed-model repeated-measures analysis of variance, a significant BDNF increase has been found during treatment (χ² = 2.91; df = 1; P < 0.0001). The percental change of BDNF (increase, 173% ± 110) correlated negatively with the percental change of PANSS score (decrease: 75% ± 22; n = 18; r = -0.554; P = 0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study replicates studies showing that unmedicated patients with schizophrenia have decreased serum BDNF levels compared with healthy controls. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor increase during treatment seems to parallel positive and negative symptom improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ah Hyun
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricken
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hellweg
authors.forename: Undine E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor