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Published on: July 19, 2017
Serum GDNF levels and anxiety disorders in a population-based study of young adults
Fernanda Pedrotti Moreira1, Carolina David Wiener2, Karen Jansen1
1Translational Science on Brain Disorders, Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to verify the serum GDNF levels in individuals with anxiety disorder (AD) in a population-based study.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study population-based, with people aged 18 to 35. AD's assessment was performed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I). Serum GDNF was measured by ELISA using a commercial kit.
Results:
The prevalence was 3.3% for post-traumatic stress disorder, 6.7% for panic disorders, 17% generalized anxiety disorder, 5.1% for obsessive- compulsive disorder and 7.5% for social phobia. Serum GDNF levels was higher in individuals with panic disorders (p = 0.013), generalized anxiety (p = 0.035), obsessive- compulsive disorder (p = 0.005) and social phobia (p = 0.004), when compared to individuals without ADs. Only post traumatic stress disorder is not associated with serum GDNF levels (p = 0.119).
Conclusion:
In this paper, we observed increased serum levels of GDNF in individuals with anxiety disorders, suggesting that this biomarker can be used as a putative marker for AD's. The knowledge of the physiological changes related to anxiety disorders can provide a better understanding of AD's pathogenesis, as well as, mechanisms involved in the progression of this condition.
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