title: Decreased Plasma BDNF Levels of Patients with Somatization Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), one of the most abundant and important neurotrophins, is known to be involved in the development, survival, maintenance, and plasticity of neurons in the nervous system. Some studies have suggested that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia. Similarly, it is likely that the alteration of BDNF may be associated with the neuro-modulation that contributes to the development of somatization disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an abnormality of plasma BDNF levels in patients with somatization disorder, and to analyze the nature of the alteration after pharmacotherapy using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma BDNF levels of the patients with a somatization disorder were significantly lower compared with those of the control volunteers (83.61±89.97 pg/mL vs. 771.36±562.14 pg/mL); moreover, the plasma BDNF levels of those patients who received an antidepressant were significantly increased after the treatment (118.13±91.45 pg/mL vs. 72.92±88.21 pg/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of somatization disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Maeumsarang Hospital, Wanju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-In
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.; Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: BDNF; Neurotrophin; Somatization disorder