title: The Val66Met polymorphism at the BDNF gene does not influence Wisconsin Card Sorting Test results in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of the Val66Met polymorphism at the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene on the performance of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder [juvenile bipolar disorder (JBD)] on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children and adolescents were assessed by the K-SADS-PL and a clinical evaluation for BD and comorbid conditions. Manic and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Children Depression Rating Scale - Reviewed. The Val66Met polymorphism at the BDNF was genotyped from a blood sample. Patients' IQ and executive functions were assessed by a standard cognitive flexibility test (WCST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three subjects were included in the study. No significant difference was observed between the Val/Val and Val/Met+Met/Met groups on any WCST scores in the MANCOVA (F48,5 = .76; p = .59; Perseverative Errors, p = .66; Nonperseverative Errors, p = .58; Categories Completed, p = .34; Attempts to Reach First Category, p=.64; and Percentage of Conceptual Level Responses, p = .99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings from this sample of children and adolescents with BD do not replicate results from studies of adults and suggest the existence of differences in the neurobiology of this disorder across the life cycle. Investigations of larger samples are necessary to confirm these data.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristian Patrick
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Zeni
authors.forename: Silzá
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tramontina
authors.forename: Thamis Aline
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zeni
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pheula
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maldaner
authors.forename: Talita Lopes
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salatino-Oliveira
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hutz
authors.forename: Luis Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rohde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor