Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor in drug resistant depressed patients

Zanardini, Roberta; Gazzoli, Anna; Ventriglia, Mariacarla; Perez, Jorge; Bignotti, Stefano; Maria Rossini, Paolo; Gennarelli, Massimo; Bocchio-Chiavetto, Luisella

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.029

« Previous Next »Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 91, Issue 1 , Pages 83-86, March 2006

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor in drug resistant depressed patients

Roberta Zanardini
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
Anna Gazzoli
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
Mariacarla Ventriglia
- AFaR-Department of Neurosciences, S.Giovanni Calibita-FBF, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy
Jorge Perez
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
Stefano Bignotti
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
Paolo Maria Rossini
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- AFaR-Department of Neurosciences, S.Giovanni Calibita-FBF, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy
- Neurology, University Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy
Massimo Gennarelli
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Brescia, Italy
Luisella Bocchio-Chiavetto
- IRCCS “S. Giovanni di Dio”, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
- Corresponding author. Genetic Unit, I.R.C.C.S. “San Giovanni di Dio”-Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni, 4, 25123 Brescia Italy. Tel.: +39 030 3501453; fax: +39 030 3533513.

Received 11 August 2005; received in revised form 9 December 2005; accepted 14 December 2005.

Abstract

Background

Depression has been associated with low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum levels, while antidepressant drugs appear to mend this alteration. The purpose of this study was to assess BDNF serum levels in drug resistant depressed patients before and after repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) antidepressant treatment.

Methods

BDNF levels were measured in serum of 16 resistant depressed patients using the ELISA technique.

Results

BDNF baseline levels showed a negative correlation with illness severity measured by HDRS scores (R=−0.517, p=0.04) and a significant increase of serum BDNF was found after rTMS treatment (t=−2.549, df=15, p=0.022).

Conclusions

Our findings support the relationship between decreased serum BDNF and depression symptomatology and suggest a normalizing effect of rTMS antidepressant treatment. Further replications in larger samples will help to clarify the relevance of this preliminary data in the rTMS mechanism of action.

Keywords: Depression, BDNF, rTMS, Serum, Drug-resistant, HDRS