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Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF), two important neurotrophic factors that are well-known to play a role in neuroplasticity. Neurotrophic factors are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric diseases including major depression. Major depression with low serum levels of neurotrophic factors compared to healthy controls and increased plasma level with treatment have been shown in previous studies.
Method: In this study, we aimed to investigate the change in serum levels of BDNF and NGF levels with ECT treatment in patients with treatment-resistant major depression.
30 patients with treatment-resistant major depression completed the study. Data of the patients were compared with 30 healthy subjects who had similar sociodemographic characteristics. Serum BDNF and NGF levels of the patients were measured before treatment, when clinical response occurred and at the end of treatment. Severity of the disease was assessed by the 17-items HAM-D scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 15.00.
Results: In the study, baseline serum BDNF and NGF levels in patients with major depression were lower than the control group (p<0,05). Significant increases in serum BDNF levels with ECT treatment were lower than the control group; serum NGF levels didn't display a statistically significant increase. There was no relationship between the clinical severity of the disease with serum BDNF and NGF levels (p>0.05).
Conclusion: It is evaluated to be the role of neurotrophic factors particularly including BDNF in the etiopathogenesis of major depression. In the future, new studies to investigate the relationship between neurotrophic factors with neuroendocrine and genetic processes are thought to make an important contribution to understand the psychobiology and treatment of mental disorders especially including major depression.