title: Serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with gender identity disorder.
abstract: Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is characterized by a strong and persistent cross-gender identification that affects different aspects of behavior. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity. Altered BDNF-signaling is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disordersand is related to traumatic life events. To examine serum BDNF levels, we compared one group of DSM-IV GID patients (n = 45) and one healthy control group (n = 66). Serum BDNF levels were significantly decreased in GID patients (p = 0.013). This data support the hypothesis that the reduction found in serum BDNF levels in GID patients may be related to the psychological abuse that transsexuals are exposed during their life.
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Disorder Program, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anna-Martha V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fontanari
authors.forename: Tahiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andreazza
authors.forename: Ângelo B
authors.initials: ÂB
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Koff
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Raffael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massuda
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedrini
authors.forename: Esalba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Paulo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Belmonte-de-Abreu
authors.forename: Clarissa S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kauer-Sant'Anna
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
authors.forename: Maria Ines R
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lobato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Gender identity disorder; Transsexualism