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No effect of escitalopram versus placebo on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy individuals: a randomised trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2015

Ulla Knorr ,
Pernille Koefoed ,
Mia H. Greisen Soendergaard ,
Maj Vinberg ,
Ulrik Gether ,
Christian Gluud ,
Jørn Wetterslev ,
Per Winkel  and
Lars V. Kessing
Ulla Knorr*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Pernille Koefoed
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Neuropsychiatric Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mia H. Greisen Soendergaard
Affiliation:
Neuropsychiatric Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Maj Vinberg
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Ulrik Gether
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Christian Gluud
Affiliation:
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Jørn Wetterslev
Affiliation:
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Per Winkel
Affiliation:
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lars V. Kessing
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
Ulla Knorr, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, section 6233, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Tel: +45 3864 7098; Fax: +45 3864 7077; E-mail: ulla.knorr@regionh.dk
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Abstract

Objective

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) seems to play an important role in the course of depression including the response to antidepressants in patients with depression. We aimed to study the effect of an antidepressant intervention on peripheral BDNF in healthy individuals with a family history of depression.

Methods

We measured changes in BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and whole-blood BDNF levels in 80 healthy first-degree relatives of patients with depression randomly allocated to receive daily tablets of escitalopram 10 mg versus placebo for 4 weeks.

Results

We found no statistically significant difference between the escitalopram and the placebo group in the change in BDNF mRNA expression and whole-blood BDNF levels. Post hoc analyses showed a statistically significant negative correlation between plasma escitalopram concentration and change in whole-blood BDNF levels in the escitalopram-treated group.

Conclusion

The results of this randomised trial suggest that escitalopram 10 mg has no effect on peripheral BDNF levels in healthy individuals.

Keywords

affective disordersbrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)escitalopramhealthytrial
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 101 - 109
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Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2015 

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