title: Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in treatment resistant major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effects of electroconvulsive treatment on serum BDNF and NGF levels in patients with treatment-resistant major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with treatment-resistant major depression and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The patients' serum BDNF and NGF levels were measured three times; before treatment (T0), when the clinical response occurred (T1) and at the end of treatment (T2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction detected in the HAM-D scores with ECT during the T0-T1, T1-T2 and T0-T2 periods was found to be statistically significant. In the patient group, increase in the mean BDNF levels after ECT treatment was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Significant increases in serum BDNF levels with ECT were lower than in the control group, and the serum NGF levels did not increase significantly. There was no relationship between the severity of the depression and serum BDNF and NGF levels (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study evaluated the role of neurotrophic factors in the etiopathogenesis of major depression. Future studies should investigate the relationship between neurotrophic factors with neuroendocrine and genetic processes to elucidate the psychobiology and treatment of mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Etimesgut Asker Hastanesi, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dr_jivago81@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali Emrah
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bilgen
authors.affiliation: Erenkoy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, İstanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: sbozkurtzincir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozkurt Zincir
authors.affiliation: Gölcük Asker Hastanesi, Department of Psychiatry, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: drserknzincir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zincir
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Askeri Tıp Akademisi, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozdemirbarbaros@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Barbaros
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Memorial Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: drmak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ak
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Askeri Tıp Akademisi, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dremreaydemir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Askeri Tıp Akademisi, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dr_isener@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D061218:Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Electroconvulsive therapy; Major depression; Nerve growth factor