J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2015 Nov;54(4):482-488. 10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.482.

Alteration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Panic Disorder

• Lee SA
• Kang NI
• Lee JH
• Kim YK
• Zi CH
• Lee MS
• Park JI
• Park TW
• Yang JC

• KMID: 2149330
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.482

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin involved in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, there have been no consistent findings regarding BDNF levels in panic disorder. In this study, we investigated plasma BDNF levels in panic disorder, and evaluated whether there is an association between plasma BDNF levels and severity of symptoms of panic disorder.
METHODS
Plasma BDNF levels were measured in 110 panic disorder patients and 110 normal control subjects using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of symptoms of panic disorder was determined using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Acute Panic Inventory, Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.
RESULTS
The mean plasma BDNF levels of patients with panic disorder were significantly lower compared with those of control subjects (192.50 pg/mL vs. 693.75 pg/mL). No significant association was observed between plasma BDNF levels and the severity of symptoms of panic disorder.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that BDNF may play a potential role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder.

Keyword

BDNF; Neurotrophin; Panic disorder

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor*
Cognition
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Neurogenesis
Panic Disorder*
Panic*
Plasma
Plastics
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Plastics

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of the plasma BDNF levels between normal controls and patients with panic disorder. Box plots display the median, quartiles and extremes. BDNF : Brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

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