title: High baseline BDNF serum levels and early psychopathological improvement are predictive of treatment outcome in major depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major depressive disorder has been associated with low serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (sBDNF), which is functionally involved in neuroplasticity. Although sBDNF levels tend to normalize following psychopathological improvement with antidepressant treatment, it is unclear how closely sBDNF changes are associated with treatment outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether baseline sBDNF or early changes in sBDNF are predictive of response to therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with major depressive disorder underwent standardized treatment with duloxetine. Severity of depression, measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and sBDNF were assessed at baseline, and after 1, 2, and 6 weeks of treatment. Therapy outcome after 6 weeks was defined as response (≥50 % reduction in baseline Hamilton Depression Rating score) and remission (Hamilton Depression Rating score <8). The predictive values for treatment outcome of baseline sBDNF, and early (i.e., ≤2 weeks) changes in sBDNF and Hamilton Depression Rating score were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, sBDNF correlated with Hamilton Depression Rating scores. Treatment response was associated with a higher baseline sBDNF concentration, and a greater Hamilton Depression Rating score reduction after 1 and 2 weeks. A greater early rise in sBDNF correlated with a decreased early Hamilton Depression Rating score reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though higher baseline sBDNF levels are associated with more severe depression, they may reflect an increased capacity to respond to treatment. In contrast, changes in sBDNF over the full course of treatment are not associated with psychopathological improvement.
authors.affiliation: Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, 4012, Basel, Switzerland, thorsten.mikoteit@upkbs.ch.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mikoteit
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hemmeter
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bischof
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holsboer-Trachsler
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delini-Stula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013557:Switzerland; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D013876:Thiophenes; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride