The effect of bilateral low-frequency rTMS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on serum brain-derived neurotropic factor and serotonin in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Neurosci Lett. 2018 Sep 25:684:67-71. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.008. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of bilateral low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on serum brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and serotonin (5-HT) in patients with generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). As compared with before treatment, the HARS score in patients markedly decreased after treatment, and the levels of serum BDNF and 5-HT were significantly higher. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the increase in the level of serum 5-HT was positively associated with the increase of the level of serum BDNF, and the change of anxiety score was negatively associated with the change of the level of serum BDNF and 5-HT. The results suggested that alleviation of GAD by bilateral low-frequency rTMS may be involved in the increase of the level of BDNF and the release of 5-HT in the brain.

Keywords: Brain-derived neurotropic factor; Generalized anxiety disorder; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Serotonin.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety Disorders / blood*
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Serotonin / blood*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Serotonin
  • BDNF protein, human