Accuracy of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels for differentiating between Taiwanese patients with major depressive disorder or schizophrenia and healthy controls.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been associated with the psychopathology of both major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia (SZ). However, studies focusing on the accuracy of BDNF levels to differentiate between these patients and healthy controls (HCs) have been rare.

Methods

Over a discrete ten-year period, we investigated serum BDNF levels in patients with MDD or SZ and compared them to HCs.

Results

We found serum BDNF levels in 224 samples with SZ to be lower than those in 390 HCs samples (p = 0.007), but not lower than those in the 273 samples with MDD. Male MDD patients tended to have lower BDNF levels compared to male HCs (p = 0.083). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that BDNF levels were moderatel

SUBMITTER: Chiou YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6386307 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature