title: The BDNF Val(66)Met polymorphism is associated with escitalopram response in depressed patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is a candidate gene in therapeutic responses to antidepressants. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of BDNF allelic variability on responses to escitalopram treatment at 3 weeks after treatment initiation and at a 6-week endpoint.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 187 Caucasian subjects with depression; 153 completed the 6-week study. Clinical evaluation was performed using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before and after 3-6 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 weeks of treatment, we saw significantly better treatment responses in the Met carriers and greater antidepressant resistance among the Val/Val homozygotes. Relative to Val/Val homozygous (59.78 %), a significantly greater proportion of subjects Met-carriers (77.94 %) responded to escitalopram treatment (χ (2) = 5.88, p = 0.015). After 6 weeks, we found the same pattern of results but this effect did not reach statistical significance (χ (2) = 2.07, p = 0.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight a significant association between the BDNF valine to methionine substitution (Val(66)Met) polymorphism and the treatment response to escitalopram in a Caucasian population of severely depressed inpatients.
authors: Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire, Centre Expert Dépression Résistante, Fondation FondaMental, CHRU de Tours, 37044, Tours Cedex 9, France, wissam.elhage@univ-tours.fr.
authors: Wissam
authors: W
authors: El-Hage
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Vourc'h
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Gaillard
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Léger
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Belzung
authors: Yadira
authors: Y
authors: Ibarguen-Vargas
authors: Christian R
authors: CR
authors: Andres
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Camus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015283:Citalopram; D008715:Methionine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014633:Valine