Predicting relapse in schizophrenia: Is BDNF a plausible biological marker?

Understanding the biological processes that underlie why patients relapse is an issue of fundamental importance to the detection and prevention of relapse in schizophrenia. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a facilitator of brain plasticity, is reduced in patients with schizophrenia. In the present study, we examined whether decreases in plasma BDNF levels could be used as a biological predictor of relapse in schizophrenia. A total of 221 patients were prospectively evaluated for relapse over 30months in the Preventing Relapse in Schizophrenia: Oral Antipsychotics Compared to Injectables: eValuating Efficacy (PROACTIVE) study.

Source: Schizophrenia Research - July 19, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Anilkumar Pillai, Nina R. Schooler, Diya Peter, Stephen W. Looney, Donald C. Goff, Alexander Kopelowicz, John Lauriello, Theo Manschreck, Alan Mendelowitz, Del D. Miller, Joanne B. Severe, Daniel R. Wilson, Donna Ames, Juan Bustillo, John M. Kane, Peter F Source Type: research