title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a suicide factor in mental disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in brain plasticity processes and serum levels have been demonstrated to be altered in patients with different mental disorder including suicidal behaviour. The objective of this study was to examine the association between serum BDNF levels as a possible peripheral indicator of suicide behaviour in subjects suffering from depression, personality disorders (PDs) and adjustment disorders (ADs) with or without suicide attempt.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research included 172 randomly selected individuals suffering from recurrent depressive disorder (RDD; F 33.2), emotionally unstable PD (F 60.3) and AD (F 43.2), with or without attempted suicide according to the criteria of the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision) and 60 phenotypically health control subjects. In the group of patients, 73% subjects took some form of psychopharmacotherapy. Serum BDNF levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with PD and AD with suicide attempts had significantly lower serum BDNF levels than those without suicide attempts. In groups of subjects with PD and AD, those taking psychopharmacotherapy had higher serum BDNF levels. In the group of subjects with RDD, there were no differences with respect to suicide attempts or psychopharmacotherapy. Logistical regression analysis was indicated that psychopharmacotherapy and serum BDNF levels statistically correlated with suicide attempts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lower levels of BDNF in subjects suffering from PD and AD with suicide attempts, suggest that the serum BDNF level is a potential marker of suicidal behaviour, independent of mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: 1Psychiatric Hospital 'Sveti Ivan',Department for the Treatment of Psychosis and Borderline States,Jankomir,Zagreb,Croatia.
authors.forename: Majda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grah
authors.affiliation: 2Psychiatric Hospital 'Sveti Ivan',Jankomir,Zagreb,Croatia.
authors.forename: Mate
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihanovic
authors.affiliation: 3Psychiatric Hospital 'Sveti Ivan',Department of Laboratory Diagnostics,Jankomir,Zagreb,Croatia.
authors.forename: Nedjeljka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruljancic
authors.affiliation: 4Psychiatric Hospital 'Sveti Ivan',Department for Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Neuroses,Psychoses,and Borderline States and Day Hospital,Jankomir,Zagreb,Croatia.
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Restek-Petrovic
authors.affiliation: 5Psychiatric Hospital 'Sveti Ivan',Department of Neurosis and PTSD,Jankomir,Zagreb,Croatia.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.affiliation: 6Psychiatric Hospital 'Sveti Ivan',Department of Psychosis,Jankomir,Zagreb,Croatia.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jelavic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor