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Polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and dynamics of the seizure threshold of electroconvulsive therapy

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Abstract

During a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the level of currency necessary to induce an epileptic seizure in a patient may either remain relatively stable or—more often—may require repeated upward adjustment over time due to a constantly increasing seizure threshold. We aimed to determine whether a common polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which constitutes an important and ubiquitously expressed neurotrophine in the brain, affects the stimulation threshold of ECTs required to induce an epileptic seizure over time. Twenty-seven adult patients who underwent at least 12 consecutive ECT sessions were analyzed for the stimulation intensities required during the course of the stimulation as well as their BDNF gene status. We could not find a relation between the Val/Met polymorphism of the BDNF and the development of the seizure threshold during the course of the ECT sessions. Mechanisms and predispositions other than the BDNF polymorphism investigated in this study are responsible for the change in seizure thresholds over the course of ECT.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. P. Falkai and Dr. Alkomiet Hassan for reading the study protocol for the ethical committee. We thank Frank Rohrborn and Henrik Fleige for their assistance in accessing patients’ charts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany

    C. Stephani

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, von-Siebold-Strasse 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany

    C. Wolff-Menzler

  3. Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12, 37075, Göttingen, Germany

    M. Shoukier

  4. Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Alexianer-Krankenhaus Aachen GmbH, Alexianergraben 33, 52062, Aachen, Germany

    C. Wolff-Menzler

  5. Institute for Research and Clinical Studies, Von-Bar-Straße 2/4, 37075, Göttingen, Germany

    R. Ahmed

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  1. C. Stephani
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Correspondence to C. Stephani.

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Stephani, C., Shoukier, M., Ahmed, R. et al. Polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and dynamics of the seizure threshold of electroconvulsive therapy. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 267, 787–794 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-016-0744-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-016-0744-z

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