Effect of Atypical Antipsychotics on Serum BDNF in an Egyptian First Samples of First Episode Schizophrenia Patients

- Aim: The study is one of only few studies that was concerned with effect of atypical antipsychotics on serum Brain-Derived Neutorophic Factor (BDNF) level, as well as the relation between serum BDNF level and severity of symp -toms. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 45 patients with first episode schizophrenia, patients were diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), severity of symptoms assessed by PANSS (Positive And Negative Syndrome) scale, serum level of BDNF was assessed in all patients before starting their medication and after 6 weeks of receiving atypical antipsychotic. Results: Serum BDNF levels were decreased after 6 weeks of treat ment with atypical antipsychotic in patients with first episode schizophrenia, risperidone and quetiapine showed statisti cally significant decrease (p values 0.004, 0.041 respectively) in BDNF level after 6 weeks of therapy. PANSS score was decreased after 6 weeks of treatment with atypical antipsychotic in patients with first episode schizophrenia. Quetiapine showed the highest mean difference 65.4 ± 13.5 and the amisulpride showed the least mean difference 43.7 ± 4.9. There was no significant correlation between serum BDNF level and severity of the symptoms (p value 0.328), while we estab lished a negative correlation between BDNF level and negative symptoms (r = -0.321). We did not establish significant differences (p value = 0.604) between subtypes of schizophrenia regarding BDNF level. Conclusions: Further cognitive, neuropsychological and psychopathological assessment could be useful to clarify the involvement of BDNF in the endopheno typic characteristics of schizophrenia.