Original scientific paper

DIFFERENT SERUM BDNF LEVELS IN DEPRESSION: RESULTS FROM BDNF STUDIES IN FYR MACEDONIA AND BULGARIA

Gordana Ristevska-Dimitrovska ; University Psychiatry Clinic, Skopje, FYR Macedonia, Higher Medical School Bitola - University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bitola, FYR Macedonia
Rinaldo Shishkov ; Medical University “Prof. Paraskev Stojanov”, Varna, Bulgaria
Vesna Pejoska Gerazova ; University Psychiatry Clinic, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Viktorija Vujovik ; University Psychiatry Clinic, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Branislav Stefanovski ; University Psychiatry Clinic, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Antoni Novotni ; University Psychiatry Clinic, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Petar Marinov ; Medical University “Prof. Paraskev Stojanov”, Varna, Bulgaria
Izabela Filov ; Higher Medical School Bitola - University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bitola, FYR Macedonia

Abstract

Background: A growing body of evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in depressive
disorder. Serum BDNF levels are lower in depressed patients and they increase after a long course of antidepressant treatment. Our
study aims to test the effect of antidepressant treatment on serum BDNF levels in patients with a depressive episode, after they have
achieved remission in two studies in Macedonia and Bulgaria.
Subjects and methods: In the Macedonian study 23 patients were included (11 female, 12 male) diagnosed with a first depressive
episode according to ICD-10, as well as 23 control subjects age- and sex-matched without a history of psychiatric disorder. In the
Bulgarian study 10 female patients with depression and 10 control subjects were included. We have applied the Hamilton Depression
Rating Scale (HDRS) to assess depression severity. Blood samples were collected before antidepressive treatment and after
remission was achieved (decrease to 7 points or less on HDRS).
Results: In the Macedonian study, mean serum BDNF level at baseline was 13.15±6.75 ng/ml and the mean HDRS score was
28.52±4.02. Untreated depressed patients showed significantly lower serum BDNF levels compared to the control group (25.95±9.17
ng/ml). After remission was achieved, the mean serum BDNF level was 24.73±11.80 ng/ml whereas the mean HDRS score was
7.04±3.15. After 8 weeks of treatment there was no statistically significant difference in the serum BDNF levels between the two
groups. In the Bulgarian study, baseline mean serum BDNF levels were 26.84±8.66 ng/ml, after 3 weeks treatment and remission
was achieved mean serum BDNF levels were 30.33±9.25 ng/ml and in the control group mean serum BDNF levels were 25.04±2.88
ng/ml. Integrated results showed baseline mean serum BDNF levels of 17.30±9.66 ng/ml, after achieved remission 26.43±11.25
ng/ml and in the control group mean serum BDNF levels of 25.68±7.76 ng/ml.
Conclusion: The Bulgarian results showed no statistical difference between the depressed group and controls. The Integrated
results and the Macedonian study supported previous findings of low BDNF levels in untreated depressive patients compared to
healthy controls, and that those levels increase after antidepressant treatment. These results may suggest that low serum levels of
BDNF are a state abnormality that is evident during depression and normalizes during remission.

Keywords

depressive disorder – BDNF - state trait biological marker - FYR Macedonia - Bulgaria

Hrčak ID:

161166

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161166

Publication date:

10.6.2013.

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