Abstract
BackgroundCognitive impairments are seen in first psychotic episode (FEP) patients. The neurobiological underpinnings that might underlie these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels are associated with cognitive impairment in FEP patients compared with healthy controls.Methods45 FEP patients and 45 healthy controls matched by age, gender and educational level were selected from the Basque Country area of Spain. Plasma BDNF levels were assessed in healthy controls and in patients. A battery of cognitive tests was applied to both groups, with the patients being assessed at 6 months after the acute episode and only in those with a clinical response to treatment.ResultsPlasma BDNF levels were altered in patients compared with the control group. In FEP patients, we observed a positive association between BDNF levels at six months and five cognitive domains (learning ability, immediate and delayed memory, abstract thinking and processing speed) which persisted after controlling for medications prescribed, drug use, intelligence quotient (IQ) and negative symptoms. In the healthy control group, BDNF levels were not associated with cognitive test scores.ConclusionOur results suggest that BDNF is associated with the cognitive impairment seen after a FEP. Further investigations of the role of this neurotrophin in the symptoms associated with psychosis onset are warranted.
Highlights
Cognitive impairments are seen in first psychotic episode (FEP) patients
Studies have found alterations in executive functioning, verbal memory and attention from the onset of psychosis [1,2]. The presence of these cognitive deficits is evident during the acute episode, it has been established that patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia or bipolar disorder continue to have cognitive deficits [3]
A recent review of serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in patients with a first psychotic episode shows a significant decrease in patients with schizophrenia but not in those with non-schizophrenia psychosis [18]
Summary
Cognitive impairments are seen in first psychotic episode (FEP) patients. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels are associated with cognitive impairment in FEP patients compared with healthy controls. Some studies in first-episode psychosis patients found that pharmacological treatment with olanzapine [15] or aripiprazole [16] is associated with increased BDNF levels. A recent clinical study has shown that bipolar patients who respond well to lithium treatment perform better in a battery of neuropsychological tests and have higher BDNF plasma levels than patients with a poor response to lithium and are similar to healthy controls [17]. A recent review of serum BDNF levels in patients with a first psychotic episode shows a significant decrease in patients with schizophrenia but not in those with non-schizophrenia psychosis [18]. It is thought that the measurement of peripheral markers, including BDNF, may increase our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders [19,20,21]
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