Serum BDNF levels in unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder

Objective: Unaffected relatives of bipolar disorder (BD) patients have been investigated for the identification of endophenotypes in an attempt to further elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is considered to be implicated in the pathophysiology of BD, but its role as an endophenotype has been poorly studied. We investigated abnormal serum BDNF levels in BD patients, in their unaffected relatives, and in healthy controls. Methods: BDNF levels were obtained from 25 DSM-IV bipolar I disorder patients, 23 unaffected relatives, and 27 healthy controls. All BD patients were in remission. The unaffected subjects were first-degree relatives of the proband who had no lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of axis I disorder. BDNF serum levels were determined by sandwich ELISA using monoclonal BDNF-specific antibodies. Results: There were no statistical differences in BDNF levels among BD patients, relatives, and healthy controls. Conclusion: Serum BDNF levels may not indicate high genetic risk for BD, possibly acting as state markers rather than trait markers of the disease.

Funcionamento familiar e tentativa de suicídio em pacientes com transtorno afetivo bipolar / Family functioning and suicide attempts in bipolar disorder patients

A influência do transtorno afetivo bipolar (TB) no comportamento do indivíduo pode interferir significativamente no funcionamento familiar. Em uma perspectiva sistêmica, o funcionamento familiar diz respeito à forma como a família proporciona o ambiente adequado para o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência dos membros da família nos níveis biológico, psicológico e social. Estudos que avaliaram o funcionamento familiar em famílias de pacientes com TB utilizando o Inventário de Avaliação Familiar (IAF) sugerem que o funcionamento familiar é globalmente pior quando comparado a famílias de indivíduos saudáveis. Entre todos os transtornos psiquiátricos, o TB caracteriza-se por uma das mais altas taxas de tentativas de suicídio e mortalidade por suicídio. Estudos recentes em transtorno depressivo maior sugerem que existe uma associação entre pior funcionamento familiar e comportamento suicida. No entanto, a associação entre funcionamento familiar e tentativa de suicídio em pacientes com TB tem sido pouco estudada. Hipótese: Famílias de pacientes portadores de TB que tenham apresentado pelo menos uma tentativa de suicídio na vida apresentam um pior funcionamento familiar quando comparadas a famílias de pacientes portadores de TB que nunca tentaram suicídio. Métodos: Sessenta e dois pacientes com TB (trinta e um com histórico de pelo menos uma tentativa de suicídio na vida, trinta e um sem histórico de tentativas de suicídio na vida) e sessenta familiares de pacientes com TB (vinte e nove familiares de pacientes com TB com história de pelo menos uma tentativa de suicídio na vida e trinta e um familiares de pacientes com TB sem histórico de tentativas de suicídio na vida) foram avaliados através do IAF. Escores médios de funcionamento familiar foram comparados entre os grupos, bem como correlações entre escores da IAF e sintomas de humor ou de ideação suicida. Resultados: Pacientes com TB e história de tentativa de suicídio apresentaram um número significativamente maior...

The influence of bipolar disorder (BD) on the patient's behavior might interfere significantly with family functioning. From a systemic perspective, family functioning is about the way that family provides the appropriate environment for biologic, psychological and social development and survival for each family member. Studies evaluating family functioning in BD using the Family Assessment Device (FAD) suggest that family functioning is worse in families of BD patients when compared with control families. Considering all psychiatric disorders, BD is characterized by the highest rates of suicide attempts and mortality by suicide. Recent studies in major depression disorder suggest that there is an association between worse family functioning and suicidal behavior. The association between family functioning and suicide attempts in BD patients has been poorly investigated. Hypothesis: Families of BD patients with history of suicide attempts will present worse family functioning when compared with families of BD patients without suicide attempts. Methods: Sixty two BD patients (thirty-one BD I patients with lifetime history of suicide attempts and thirty-one BD I patients with no lifetime history of SA) and 61 first degree relatives (father, mother, brother, sister, daughter, son, or spouse) (twenty-nine relatives of BD I patients with lifetime history of suicide attempts and thirty-one relatives of BD I patients with no lifetime history of SA) were assessed using the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Family functioning scores were compared between both groups as correlation between FAD scores and mood symptoms and suicide ideation. Results: BD patients with history of suicide attempts presented significantly more psychiatric hospitalization (p=0,029), higher frequency of psychotic symptoms (p=0,037), and higher scores on depressive (p=0,026), manic (p=0,005), and suicidal ideation scores (p=0,041) than BD patients without suicide attempts. BD patients with...