Hair brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as predictor of developing psychopathological symptoms in childhood

Autor(en)

Ursula Pauli-Pott, Alisa Susann Cosan, Susan Schloß, Nadine Skoluda, Urs M Nater, Susanne Tumala, Johannes Kruse, Eva M J Peters

Abstrakt

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation in the expression of neurotrophins is implicated in the pathophysiology of several mental disorders. Peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can be measured in hair and might represent a marker of adequate neuroplasticity regulation. In early developmental periods, neuroplasticity regulation might be particularly important, but BDNF markers have not yet been analyzed in this regard. We used the hair-BDNF concentration (HBC) to investigate the prediction of emerging symptoms of anxiety/depressive and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the developmentally crucial period from preschool to school age.

METHODS: 117 children (58 girls, 59 boys) participated in a longitudinal study at the ages of 4-5 (T1) and 8 (T2) years. At T1, HBC was measured in a 3 cm hair segment. At T1 and T2, symptom domains were assessed using a multi-method (clinical interview, questionnaire) and multi-informant approach.

RESULTS: T1 HBC was significantly negatively associated with T1 anxiety/depressive symptoms (r = -0.27) and predicted T2 anxiety disorder symptoms (r = -0.34) after controlling for the T1 symptoms. T1 HBC also predicted T2 depressive disorder symptoms (r = -0.18) but was not associated with ADHD symptom development.

LIMITATIONS: BDNF hair analysis is a new method with a not yet large number of studies on methodological issues. Our study adds evidence to the validity of the method.

CONCLUSIONS: Prediction of anxiety/depressive symptom development by HBC was shown. As this study was the first to use HBC in this context, cross-validation is necessary and worthwhile. HBC might prove to constitute a useful, non-invasive early marker of risk for anxiety/depressive disorders in childhood.

Organisation(en)

Forschungsplattform The Stress of Life - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress, Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie

Externe Organisation(en)

Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (JLU), Philipps Universität Marburg, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Journal

Journal of Affective Disorders

Band

320

Seiten

428-435

Anzahl der Seiten

ISSN

0165-0327

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.007

Publikationsdatum

10-2022

Peer-reviewed

ÖFOS 2012

501010 Klinische Psychologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Psychiatry and Mental health, Clinical Psychology

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/44afee73-9670-4457-beb1-0a9c00d3dd3a