BDNF and NT-3 may participate in neurodevelopment abnormalities. It is not clear if BDNF/NT-3 levels differ between schizophrenic and healthy individuals. Cognitive dysfunctions form the core of schizophrenia and may result from neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

Assessment of BDNF and NT-3 serum levels and cognitive performance in schizophrenia.

Study groups: 33 schizophrenic in-patients and 27 healthy subjects. Clinical symptoms: PANSS, HDRS, CDSS. Cognitive performance: Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Color Word Interference Test (CWIT), Trail Making Test (TMT), Digit Symbol Substitution (DSYM), Luria Memory Words (LMW). BDNF and NT-3 levels were assessed using ELISA method.

PANSS, CDSS, HDRS scores (mean ± SD): 49.2 ± 16.2, 4.3 ± 4.4, 10.1 ± 7.6. Table 1 shows BDNF and NT-3 levels. Table 2 shows cognitive performance. Inter-variables correlations were found: BDNF-CDSS (r = −0.40, p = 0.03) BDNF-HDRS (r = −0.51, p = 0.003), NT-3-CWIT1 (r = 0.32, p = 0.01), NT-3-TMTA (r = 0.36, p < 0.01), NT-3-LMW30 (r = −0.33, p = 0.01).

There were no differences in BDNF or NT-3 levels between groups. Schizophrenic patients had lower cognitive performance. An association between BDNF and depressive symptoms was confirmed.