Gender specific associations of serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in anxiety
Abstract
Objectives Whereas animal models indicate that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in anxiety-related behaviour, little is known about BDNF in patients with an anxiety disorder. We tested the hypothesis that serum BDNF levels are low in patients with an anxiety disorder as compared to healthy controls. We further examined the associations of gender and some of the clinical characteristics of anxiety with BDNF levels. Methods Serum BDNF levels were determined in 393 unmedicated, non-depressed patients with social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder (66.7% females) and in 382 healthy controls (62.0% females). Results Overall, there were no differences in BDNF levels among patients and controls, regardless of type of anxiety disorder. Analyses stratified by gender revealed that female patients had lower levels of BDNF relative to female controls (P 1 anxiety disorder (P Conclusion Our results mirror preclinical findings indicating that gender plays a role in the association between BDNF and anxiety and suggest that BDNF might play a role in the pathophysiology of anxiety in women.
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Several studies agree that BDNF serum levels fail to act as biomarkers for anxiety since dysregulated expression of this factor is present in multiple psychiatric illnesses including depression and schizophrenia.
“Several studies agree that BDNF serum levels fail to act as biomarkers for anxiety since dysregulated expression of this factor is present in multiple psychiatric illnesses including depression and schizophrenia (Molendijk et al., 2012; Carlino et al., 2015; Cattaneo et al., 2016).”
From The Epigenetics of Anxiety Pathophysiology: A DNA Methylation and Histone Modification Focused Review (2023) · cites this paper as Molendijk et al., 2012
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“Several studies agree that BDNF serum levels fail to act as biomarkers for anxiety since dysregulated expression of this factor is present in multiple psychiatric illnesses including depression and schizophrenia (Molendijk et al., 2012; Carlino et al., 2015; Cattaneo et al., 2016).”
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- Authors
- Molendijk, M. L., Bus, B. A. A., Spinhoven, P., Penninx, B. W. J. H., Prickaerts, J., Oude Voshaar, R. C., & Elzinga, B. M.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- University of Groningen (NL)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Molendijk, Marc L.
- Venue
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-09-05
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 535-543
- ISSN
- 1562-2975 (ISSN-L)
- 1814-1412
- OpenAlex
- W2148588032
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 3.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- ZonMw
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
- Keywords
- brain-derived neurotrophic factor, serum BDNF, anxiety disorders, gender differences, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, women
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Anxiety Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Sex Factors, Cohort Studies, Biomarkers, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Young Adult
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