Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor in depressive patients

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)treatment on the brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)serum levels in depressive patients. Methods Sixty-eight unipolar depressions treated with venlafaxine were randomly assigned to the real rTMS group(n=34)and the sham rTMS group(n=34), which were accepted the real or the shame rTMS treatment on the left dorsolateral prefrontal lobes respectively. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD)and BDNF serum was assayed before and after 4 weeks’ treatment. Results 1)A significant increase of serum BDNF((12.2±1.3)μg/L vs(5.6±0.8)μg/L, t=-9.167, P=0.000; (11.4±1.5)μg/L vs (6.0±1.0)μg/L, t=-7.421, P=0.000)and a significant decline of HAMD((11.6±1.7)score vs (32.6±2.5)score, t=14.654, P=0.000; (4.2±2.8)score vs (31.8±3.2)score, t=12.089, P=0.000) were found after the treatment in the real and the shame group, and the real group changed more significantly than the shame group ((6.7±0.8)μg/L vs (5.1±1.2)μg/L, t=2.690, P=0.009; (21.0±2.1)score vs (17.6±2.6)score, t=2.693, P=0.000). 2)A negative correlation was found between the serum BDNF levels and the HAMD scores before the treatment(r=-0.530, P=0.003; r=-0.490, P=0.004), and a positive correlation between changes of BDNF levels and HAMD scores changes(r=0.439, P=0.006; r=0.454, P=0.005). Conclusion The rTMS treatment can increase serum BDNF levels in depressive patients. Key words: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Depression; Brain derived neurotrophic factor