A small, early study finds changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor in cerebrospinal fluid after a course of electroconvulsive therapy — but no correlation with improvement in symptoms.
Because depression is associated with reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), investigators in Germany studied BDNF levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as in blood, of nine patients with unipolar major depression prior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and a mean of 4 days after completing a mean of 12 sessions of right unilateral ECT.
BDNF levels in CSF (but not in blood) increased significantly from baseline to after the ECT course. However, the increases were not correlated with number of treatments or improvement in depression.
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportTower Foundation; Patrick Lee Foundation; Boehringer Ingelheim; Intra-Cellular Therapies; Janssen; Biogen; Allergan
Editorial BoardsMind and Brain; Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic; Current Psychiatry; Journal of Psychosomatic Research
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportTower Foundation; Patrick Lee Foundation; Boehringer Ingelheim; Intra-Cellular Therapies; Janssen; Biogen; Allergan
Editorial BoardsMind and Brain; Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic; Current Psychiatry; Journal of Psychosomatic Research