Journal of International Psychiatry

【Abstract】Objective To investigate the changes of serum NGF、BDNF and MBP levels pretherapy and post-treatment in the adolescent schizophrenia,and their correlation with clinical symptoms of schizophrenia inpatiens. Methods We recruited 40 adolescent schizophrenia patients（age,13-18 years）and compared them with 40 matched healthy child subjects. The changes of BDNF、NGF and MBP serum levels before and after treatment were measured by using the enzyme linked immunnosorbent assay(ELISA); Psychiatric symptoms before and after treatment were assessed by PANSS scale, and the correlation between the serum protein factor concentration and the PANSS score was studied as well. Result Before treatment, the serum concentrations of BDNF and NGF were lower in the patient group than that in the normal control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01); the levels of MBP in the patient group were higher than that in the normal control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The levels of BDNF and NGF in patient group were significantly increased after 8 weeks of treatment, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01)，however, the levels of MBP in patient group were decreased after 8 weeks of treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).There were negative correlation between the PANSS scores and the serum NGF levels before treatment, likewise there were negative correlation in negative symptoms and the serum BDNF levels, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The study suggests that the neurotrophins BDNF and NGF are more likely to participate in the development of disease than the nerve damage protein MBP in the early stages of schizophrenia. The serum levels of BDNF and NGF can be used as a clinical observation indicator, which will help to evaluate clinical characteristics and the treatment effect and the prognosis of schizophrenia.

【Key words】schizophrenia; neurotrophic factor; nerve damage protein; PANSS