AUTHOR=Gedge Laura , Beaudoin Ashley , Lazowski Lauren , du Toit Regina , Jokic Ruzica , Milev Roumen 

TITLE=Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Patients with Depression

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00012

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00012

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are decreased in individuals with depression and increase following antidepressant treatment. The objective of this study is to compare pre- and post-treatment serum BDNF levels in patients with drug-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) who received either electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). It is hypothesized that non-pharmacological treatments also increase serum BDNF levels. <bold>Methods:</bold> This was a prospective, single-blind study comparing pre- and post-treatment serum BDNF levels of 29 patients with drug-resistant MDD who received ECT or rTMS treatment. Serum BDNF levels were measured 1 week prior to and 1 week after treatment using the sandwich ELISA technique. Depression severity was measured 1 week before and 1 week after treatment using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Two-sided normal distribution paired <italic>t</italic>-test analysis was used to compare pre- and post-treatment BDNF concentration and illness severity. Bivariate correlations using Pearson’s coefficient assessed the relationship between post-treatment BDNF levels and post-treatment depression severity. <bold>Results:</bold> There was no significant difference in serum BDNF levels before and after ECT, although concentrations tended to increase from a baseline mean of 9.95–12.29 ng/ml after treatment (<italic>p</italic> = 0.137). Treatment with rTMS did not significantly alter BDNF concentrations (<italic>p</italic> = 0.282). Depression severity significantly decreased following both ECT (<italic>p</italic> = 0.003) and rTMS (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Post-treatment BDNF concentration was not significantly correlated with post-treatment depression severity in patients who received either ECT (<italic>r</italic> = −0.133, <italic>p</italic> = 0.697) or rTMS (<italic>r</italic> = 0.374, <italic>p</italic> = 0.126). It is important to note that these results are based on the small number of patients included in this study. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study suggests that ECT and rTMS may not exert their clinical effects by altering serum BDNF levels in patients with drug-resistant MDD. Serum BDNF concentration may not be a biomarker of ECT or rTMS treatment response.</p>