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Nursing interventions in depressed children with low serum levels of BDNF

Qingrong Sun1, Chuanying Cui1, Yanxia Fu1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Binzhou City Center Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 251700, P.R. China.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
|October 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Psychiatry
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Childhood depression is a significant mental health concern.
  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in neuronal development and function.
  • Reduced BDNF levels have been implicated in various psychiatric disorders, including depression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and depression in children.
  • To evaluate the impact of different nursing interventions on pediatric patients with depression and low BDNF levels.

Main Methods:

  • Serum BDNF levels (mRNA and protein) were measured in 128 children with depression and 50 healthy controls.
  • Sixty depressed children with low BDNF were randomized into comprehensive nursing and regular nursing groups.
  • Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores, BDNF protein expression, treatment compliance, and quality of life were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Children with depression exhibited significantly lower serum BDNF levels compared to healthy controls (p<0.01).
  • Comprehensive nursing care led to increased BDNF protein expression (p<0.05) and reduced HAMD scores (p<0.05) compared to regular nursing.
  • The comprehensive nursing group showed improved treatment compliance and quality of life post-intervention (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Decreased serum BDNF levels are strongly correlated with depression in children.
  • Comprehensive nursing care is an effective strategy to improve depressive symptoms, enhance BDNF levels, and boost quality of life in pediatric patients.
  • Findings support the integration of comprehensive nursing protocols in managing childhood depression.

Keywords:
brain-derived neurotrophic factorcomprehensive nursing caredepression

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