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Changes in the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after treatment with atomoxetine

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Abstract

Rationale

Atomoxetine (ATX) is a non-stimulant drug approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although animal models have provided evidence that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the effects of ATX in the brain, there are no studies of BDNF in ADHD patients undergoing treatment with ATX.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible changes in serum levels of BDNF in adults treated with ATX and its relationship with clinical improvement.

Methods

A total of 54 adults with ADHD (age 33.43 ± 8.99 years) without any medical or psychiatric comorbidities were treated with ATX for 3 months; 35 of them completed the protocol. The clinical data for ADHD diagnosis, including Conners’ ADHD Rating Scale and blood samples, were collected at baseline (V1) and at the end of the treatment (V2).

Results

Adults with ADHD who completed ATX treatment for 3 months showed a significant improvement in their clinical symptoms. No significant differences were found in BDNF levels before and after treatment with ATX in the whole group of patients (p = 0.15). The inattentive subgroup of ATX responders showed a decrease of serum BDNF after 3 months of ATX treatment (p = 0.05) not present in the combined subtype (p = 0.82).

Conclusions

These results suggest that BDNF is not directly involved in the neurobiological mechanisms of ATX-induced improvement of clinical symptoms of ADHD. The differences between the combined and inattentive subtypes in serum BDNF changes suggest selective ATX-induced effects in the function of brain circuitry.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Neurovascular Research Laboratory of Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and particularly Ms. Anna Penalba for her assistance with the biochemical analyses. Dr. Marta Ribases is a recipient of a Miguel Servet contract from the “Instituto de Salud Carlos III,” Spain. We also thank the collaboration of Alonso Montoya for the suggestions.

Conflict of interest

Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga was on the speakers bureau and/or acted as consultant for Almirall, Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Shire, and Rubió within the last 3 years. He also received travel awards (airfare + hotel) from Janssen-Cilag, Shire, Rubió, and Eli-Lilly to take part in psychiatric meetings. The ADHD Program that he chaired received unrestricted educational and research support from the following pharmaceutical companies in the last 3 years: Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Shire, and Rubió.

The other authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Escola d’Infermeria building 5th floor, Pg. Vall d’Hebron, 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, Margarida Corominas-Roso, Gloria Palomar, Nuria Gomez-Barros, Marta Ribases, Cristina Sanchez-Mora, Rosa Bosch, Mariana Nogueira, Montserrat Corrales, Sergi Valero & Miguel Casas

  2. Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain

    Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, Nuria Gomez-Barros, Marta Ribases, Cristina Sanchez-Mora, Rosa Bosch, Sergi Valero & Miguel Casas

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga & Miguel Casas

  4. Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Marta Ribases & Cristina Sanchez-Mora

Authors
  1. Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga
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  2. Margarida Corominas-Roso
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  3. Gloria Palomar
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  4. Nuria Gomez-Barros
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  7. Rosa Bosch
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  10. Sergi Valero
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  11. Miguel Casas
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Correspondence to Margarida Corominas-Roso.

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Ramos-Quiroga, J.A., Corominas-Roso, M., Palomar, G. et al. Changes in the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after treatment with atomoxetine. Psychopharmacology 231, 1389–1395 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-013-3343-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-013-3343-y

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