SynthesisActas espanolas de psiquiatria2025
Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels as a Biomarker of Treatment Response in Patients With Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Actas espanolas de psiquiatria, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Biomarkers for mood disorders: A scoping review of research from India.Indian journal of psychiatry · 2026Review
- Transcranial Stimulation Methods in the Treatment of MDD Patients-The Role of the Neurotrophin System.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Bangpungtongsung-san alleviates depressive-like behavior and metabolic disturbances in high-fat diet-induced obesity: mechanisms involving inflammation, CREB/BDNF signaling, and NMDA receptor modulation.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of depression and the mechanism of action of antidepressants. This study aimed to evaluate the changes of BDNF in patients with depression and how it is affected by antidepressant treatment through meta-analysis.
methodsMultiple databases (including PubMed, Embase and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)) were searched for studies on BDNF levels in patients with depression published up to November 15, 2024. Meta-analyses of serum and plasma BDNF levels were performed using RevMan 5.4.1, with the effect sizes expressed as mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics (random-effects model if I2 ≥ 50%; fixed-effects if I2 < 50%).
resultsSerum BDNF levels in patients with depression were significantly lower than those in healthy controls [MD = -1.54, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (-2.85 to -0.24), p = 0.02]. Antidepressant drug treatment for 6 weeks significantly increased serum BDNF levels [MD = 7.42, 95% CI (1.10-13.74), p = 0.02], but the effect of 4 weeks of treatment was not statistically significant. Plasma BDNF levels showed no statistically significant differences between depressed patients and healthy controls (p > 0.05). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the meta-analysis results were robust and not unduly influenced by any single study.
conclusionSerum BDNF levels serve as potential biomarkers in patients with depression, but their sensitivity to short-term antidepressant treatment is limited.
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