Behavioral activation therapy for depression is associated with a reduction in the concentration of circulating quinolinic acid.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An inflammation-induced imbalance in the kynurenine pathway (KP) has been reported in major depressive disorder but the utility of these metabolites as predictive or therapeutic biomarkers of behavioral activation (BA) therapy is unknown.

Methods

Serum samples were provided by 56 depressed individuals before BA therapy and 29 of these individuals also provided samples after 10 weeks of therapy to measure cytokines and KP metabolites. The PROMIS Depression Scale (PROMIS-D) and the Sheehan Disability Scale were administered weekly and the Beck depression inventory was administered pre- and post-therapy. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effect, general linear, and logistic regression models. The primary outcome for the biomarker analyses was the ratio of kynureni

SUBMITTER: Savitz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8144244 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature