Can brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) be an indicator of effective rehabilitation interventions in schizophrenia?

Abstract

The increasing body of evidence implies that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most common neurotrophin in the nervous system, playing an important role as an effectiveness indicator for rehabilitation interventions in schizophrenia patients. Currently, with the modern laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods it is possible to diagnose deficits influencing the level of patient's functioning and use them as a basis for establishing individual re-adaptation programs for schizophrenia patients considering various forms of the therapy in different environments. Based on the PubMed and Scopus search tools a review of the available literature was performed and the paper presents current results of studies analyzing a relationship between selected rehabilitation interventions used in schizophrenia patients and changes in BDNF levels (a correlation between BDNF levels and physical activity and EEG Biofeedback therapy). Out of 240 records identified in total, the ones concerning the subject matter of the paper were taken into account. Studies concerning use of the presented method appear to indicate usefulness of BDNF factor in evaluation of effectiveness of implemented rehabilitation interventions in this group of patients. Changes in neurotrophin levels may indicate a synergy of the central and the peripheral nervous system, and high BDNF levels depending on physical activity and a neuromodulating effect of the EEG Biofeedback therapy may indicate their effectiveness. Use of various neurorehabilitation methods may improve the social functioning in schizophrenia patients. Treating BDNF as a biological indicator of those processes may represent an interesting hypothesis.