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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a suicide factor in mental disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2013

Majda Grah ,
Mate Mihanovic ,
Nedjeljka Ruljancic ,
Branka Restek-Petrovic ,
Sven Molnar  and
Silvana Jelavic
Majda Grah*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Department for the Treatment of Psychosis and Borderline States, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia
Mate Mihanovic
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia
Nedjeljka Ruljancic
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia
Branka Restek-Petrovic
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Department for Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Neuroses, Psychoses, and Borderline States and Day Hospital, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia
Sven Molnar
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Department of Neurosis and PTSD, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia
Silvana Jelavic
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Department of Psychosis, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Majda Grah, Psychiatric Hospital ‘Sveti Ivan’, Jankomir, Zagreb, Croatia.Tel: 0038513430018; Fax: 00385 1 3794116; E-mail: majdagrah@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Objective

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in brain plasticity processes and serum levels have been demonstrated to be altered in patients with different mental disorder including suicidal behaviour. The objective of this study was to examine the association between serum BDNF levels as a possible peripheral indicator of suicide behaviour in subjects suffering from depression, personality disorders (PDs) and adjustment disorders (ADs) with or without suicide attempt.

Methods

The research included 172 randomly selected individuals suffering from recurrent depressive disorder (RDD; F 33.2), emotionally unstable PD (F 60.3) and AD (F 43.2), with or without attempted suicide according to the criteria of the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision) and 60 phenotypically health control subjects. In the group of patients, 73% subjects took some form of psychopharmacotherapy. Serum BDNF levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Subjects with PD and AD with suicide attempts had significantly lower serum BDNF levels than those without suicide attempts. In groups of subjects with PD and AD, those taking psychopharmacotherapy had higher serum BDNF levels. In the group of subjects with RDD, there were no differences with respect to suicide attempts or psychopharmacotherapy. Logistical regression analysis was indicated that psychopharmcotherapy and serum BDNF levels statistically correlated with suicide attempts.

Conclusion

The lower levels of BDNF in subjects suffering from PD and AD with suicide attempts, suggest that the serum BDNF level is a potential marker of suicidal behaviour, independent of mental disorders.

Keywords

adjustment disorderbrain-derived neurotrophic factoremotionally unstable personality disorderrecurrent depressive disordersuicide attempt
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 6 , December 2014 , pp. 356 - 363
Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2014 

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