Alteration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Panic Disorder

Soo-Ah Lee; Nam-In Kang; Jeung Hoon Lee; Yong-Ku Kim; Cao Hong Zi; Moo-Suk Lee; Jong-Il Park; Tae Won Park; Jong-Chul Yang

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.482

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Lee, Kang, Lee, Kim, Zi, Lee, Park, Park, and Yang: Alteration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Panic Disorder

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(4): 482-488.

Published online: 30 November 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.482

Alteration of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Panic Disorder

Soo-Ah Lee, MD^1,², Nam-In Kang, MD, PhD², Jeung Hoon Lee, MD², Yong-Ku Kim, MD, PhD³, Cao Hong Zi, MD⁴, Moo-Suk Lee, MD, PhD⁴, Jong-Il Park, MD^1,⁵, Tae Won Park, MD, PhD^1,⁵, Jong-Chul Yang, MD, PhD^1,⁵

¹Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Jeonbuk Provincial Maeumsarang Hospital, Wanju, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

⁵Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Jong-Chul Yang, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, 20 Geonji-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 54907, Korea. Tel +82-63-250-2580, Fax +82-63-275-3157, yangjc@jbnu.ac.kr

Received 1 July 2015 Revised 6 August 2015 Accepted 11 August 2015

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.

Keywords: BDNF, Neurotrophin, Panic disorder

Figures and Tables

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.

Table 1

Demographic characteristics of the normal controls and the patients with panic disorder

PDSS : Panic Disorder Severity Scale, API : Acute Panic Inventory, ACQ : Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire, HAMD : Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HAMA : Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, SD : Standard deviation

Table 2

Plasma BDNF level difference between the normal controls and the patients with panic disorder

BDNF : Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Table 3

Correlations among plasma BDNF, PDSS, API, ACQ, and HAMA

^* : p<0.05. BDNF : Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, PDSS : Panic Disorder Severity Scale, API : Acute Panic Inventory, ACQ : Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire, HAMA : Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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