الفهرس 
Major Depression DisorderOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly disabling chronic mood disorder. Both biological and environmental factors had been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD.
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was proved to be important for neurogenesis, neuronal survival, normal maturation of neural pathways as well as memory consolidation.
In this regard, the aim of the present study was to assess serum BDNF among major depression disorder (MDD) patients in comparison to healthy controls .In addition to investigate the role of anti-depressant therapy on BDNF levels.
This study was conducted on 60 patients attending at the Instituate of Psychiatry at Ain Shams University Hospitals. In addition to 40 apparently healthy persons served as healthy control group. Serum BDNF Samples were assayed for all subjects. For all patients BDNF was assayed before and after one month of therapy.
Result of the present study showed:
Highly significantly lower levels of sBDNF in patients with MDD before treatment when compared to healthy controls.
Serum BDNF level was highly significantly lower in patients before taking treatment compared to after treatment.
When the BDNF level was compared in patients after treatment with healthy controls, no significant diff difference was obtained denoting that antidepressant treatment had a pivotal role in mood improvement as well as BDNF elevation.
No correlation between sBDNF levels in the patients before taking treatment and each of age and BMI. While there is a significant negative correlation between sBDNF levels and Hamilton’s score.
Diagnostic performance of sBDNF in discriminating patients with MDD from healthy controls reveals that the best cutoff was 21,500 pg/ml, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 40% .
In conclusion, low sBDNF levels are strongly associated with MDD and assessment of its level could be beneficial for diagnosis of MDD. Moreover, the serum level of BDNF increases with therapy, rendering it a good biomarker for follow up and this may open the era for pharmacist to invent a novel drug that act by increasing BDNF production and release.