Electroconvulsive therapy increases glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) serum levels in patients with drug-resistant depression

Zhang, Xiaobin; Zhang, Zhijun; Sha, Weiwei; Xie, Chunming; Xi, Guangjun; Zhou, Honghui; Zhang, Yumei

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2009.01.011

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Volume 170, Issue 2 , Pages 273-275, 30 December 2009

Electroconvulsive therapy increases glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) serum levels in patients with drug-resistant depression

Xiaobin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, No. 87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated WuTaiShan Hospital of Yangzhou University, No.2 WuTaiShan Road, Yangzhou, 225003, PR China
Zhijun Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, No. 87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
- Corresponding author.
Weiwei Sha
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated WuTaiShan Hospital of Yangzhou University, No.2 WuTaiShan Road, Yangzhou, 225003, PR China
Chunming Xie
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, No. 87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
Guangjun Xi
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, No. 87 DingJiaQiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
Honghui Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated WuTaiShan Hospital of Yangzhou University, No.2 WuTaiShan Road, Yangzhou, 225003, PR China
Yumei Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated WuTaiShan Hospital of Yangzhou University, No.2 WuTaiShan Road, Yangzhou, 225003, PR China

Received 8 May 2008; received in revised form 5 January 2009; accepted 5 January 2009.

Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be effective in patients with depression resistant to pharmacologic medication. We report that serum levels of glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were increased following ECT of patients with drug-resistant depression. When patients were sub-classified into ECT responders and non-responders, serum GDNF levels were significantly increased (58%) in responsive patients following ECT. No significant increase was seen in non-responders. These results suggest that successful ECT may be associated with elevated serum GDNF levels.

Keywords: Electroconvulsive therapy, Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor, Major depressive disorder