Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 May;16(5):799-805.
doi: 10.25122/jml-2022-0250.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in patients with schizophrenia and methamphetamine addiction: correlation with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Saja Mahir Mohammed  1 , Zainab Hassan Hashim  2 , Mahir Mohammed Hussein  3 , Qasim Sharhan Al-Mayah  4
Affiliations

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in patients with schizophrenia and methamphetamine addiction: correlation with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Saja Mahir Mohammed et al. J Med Life. 2023 May.

Abstract

Methamphetamine use can induce psychosis resembling acute schizophrenia spectrum psychosis, making it challenging to differentiate between the two based on symptoms alone. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exerts a critical role in hippocampal neural plasticity, influencing critical cognitive functions such as memory and learning. This study aimed to determine the role of serum BDNF levels in schizophrenia and methamphetamine addiction. A case-control study was conducted involving 50 patients with schizophrenia, 50 patients with methamphetamine addiction, and 50 healthy control subjects recruited from Ibn-Rushed Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Baghdad. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), while serum BDNF levels were measured using ELISA following standardized protocols. The findings revealed significantly lower median levels of BDNF (0.36 pg/ml) in patients with schizophrenia compared to both the control group (0.51 pg/ml) and the methamphetamine group (0.72 pg/ml). Moreover, there was a significant difference observed between the methamphetamine group and the control group. At a cut-off value of BDNF=0.37 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of BDNF in differentiating between schizophrenia and methamphetamine addiction were 84% and 70%, respectively. Serum level of BDNF could be used to differentiate between schizophrenia and methamphetamine addiction when clinical distinctions are challenging to detect.

Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); methamphetamine addiction; schizophrenia.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Comparison of MMSE among control, schizophrenia, and methamphetamine groups (bar chart)
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Differences in BDNF levels among control, schizophrenia, and methamphetamine groups
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Receiver operating curve for the diagnostic power of BDNF differentiation between subjects with schizophrenia and methamphetamine addiction
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Scatter plot and regression line between FBS and TG with MMSE in patients with methamphetamine addiction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Murray CJ, Vos T, Lozano R, Naghavi M, et al. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012 Dec 15;380(9859):2197–223. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61689-4.. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Weinberger DR. Implications of normal brain development for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1987 Jul;44(7):660–9. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1987.01800190080012.. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bramness JG, Gundersen OH, Guterstam J, Rognli EB, et al. Amphetamine-induced psychosis - a separate diagnostic entity or primary psychosis triggered in the vulnerable? BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12:121. doi: 10.1186/1471-244x-12-221.. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Grant KM, LeVan TD, Wells SM, Li M, et al. Methamphetamine-associated psychosis. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2012 Mar;7(1):113–39. doi: 10.1007/s11481-011-9288-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Luan X, Tao J, Zhang J, Xie Y, et al. Increased BDNF may not be associated with cognitive impairment in heroin-dependent patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Apr;96(15):e6582. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006582.. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources