Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2007 May;18(3):143-151.

Association of BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism with Depressive and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia

• Choi H
• Lee JG
• Kim MC
• Jung SS
• Lee CH
• Park SW
• Kim YH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and its genotypic distribution with depressive and cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS
The subjects were 207 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and 100 normal subjects. We evaluated psychotic, depressive, and cognitive symptoms using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, 17 Hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression, and the Korean version-Mini Mental Status Examination in schizophrenic patients. The serum level of BDNF was analyzed with ELISA and the genotypic distribution of BDNF was examined in all subjects.
RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were detected in genotype or serum level of BDNF between the patients with schizophrenia and normal subjects, between depressed and nondepressed patients, or between the patients with and without cognitive impairments. The frequency of Met alleles was high in the depressive schizophrenic patients with cognitive impairments (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Met alleles are associated with depression in schizophrenic patients with cognitive impairments, but serum BDNF concentration is not related to the presence of depression or cognitive impairments.

Keyword

BDNF; Schizophrenia; Cognition; Depression

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor*
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
Cognition
Depression
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Genotype
Humans
Neurobehavioral Manifestations*
Schizophrenia*
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor