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. 2024 Oct 18;25(20):11204.
doi: 10.3390/ijms252011204.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a Predictor of Treatment Response in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review

Andrés Liberona  1 , Natalia Jones  1 , Karen Zúñiga  1 , Verónica Garrido  1 , Mario Ignacio Zelada  1 , Hernán Silva  2   3 , Rodrigo R Nieto  2   3   4
Affiliations

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a Predictor of Treatment Response in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review

Andrés Liberona et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a potential biomarker of response to treatment in psychiatric disorders. As it plays a role in the pathophysiological development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, it is of interest to study its role in predicting therapeutic responses in both conditions. We carried out a systematic review of the literature, looking for differences in baseline BDNF levels and the Val66Met BDNF polymorphism in these disorders between responders and non-responders, and found information showing that the Val/Val genotype and higher baseline BDNF levels may be present in patients that respond successfully to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. However, there is still limited evidence to support the role of the Val66Met polymorphism and baseline BDNF levels as predictors of treatment response.

Keywords: BDNF; biomarkers; bipolar disorder; neurotrophins; schizophrenia; treatment refractoriness; treatment resistance; treatment response.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the literature search and study selection process in a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between BDNF and response to treatment of SCZ, BD, and schizoaffective disorder. Articles published up to March 2024.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow chart of the literature search and study selection process in a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between BDNF and resistance to SCZ, BD, and schizoaffective disorder treatment. Articles published up to March 2024.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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