title: Changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during abstinence could be associated with relapse in cocaine-dependent patients.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in cocaine craving in humans and drug seeking in rodents. Based on this, the aim of this study was to explore the possible role of serum BDNF in cocaine relapse in abstinent addicts. Forty cocaine dependent subjects (DSM-IV criteria) were included in an inpatient 2 weeks abstinence program. Organic and psychiatric co-morbidities were excluded. Two serum samples were collected for each subject at baseline and at after 14 abstinence days. After discharge, all cocaine addicts underwent a 22 weeks follow-up, after which they were classified into early relapsers (ER) (resumed during the first 14 days after discharge,) or late relapsers (LR) (resumed beyond 14 days after discharge). The only clinical differences between groups were the number of consumption days during the last month before detoxification. Serum BDNF levels increased significantly across the 12 days of abstinence in the LR group (p=0.02), whereas in the ER group BDNF remained unchanged. In the ER group, the change of serum BDNF during abstinence negatively correlated with the improvement in depressive symptoms (p=0.02). These results suggest that BDNF has a role in relapse to cocaine consumption in abstinent addicts, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: mcoromin@vhebron.net.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corominas-Roso
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Center on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roncero
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daigre
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grau-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ros-Cucurull
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cintas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Center on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Vall d׳Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Mora
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Center on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Vall d׳Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribases
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vall d׳Hebron University Hospital (CIBERSAM), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Center on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003042:Cocaine; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Abstinence; BDNF; Brain derived neurotrophic factor; Cocaine; Relapse