Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Gene Polymorphism and Response to Antidepressants Treatment in Major Depression

Official Summary

The main hypothesis is that the therapeutic response and pharmacological resistance to ADs in depressed patients can be associated with a polymorphism for the BDNF gene. The research of allelic forms associated to lesser efficiency or inefficiency of ADs could add to the body of evidence that BDNF mediates the mechanism of action of ADs, and could have important practical implications. We propose to compare in a group of patients with major depression, the allelic variability of the BDNF gene between responders and non-responders after a 3-week period and a 6-week period of SSRI treatment.

Study Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Allocation: NA
• Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Masking: NONE
• Enrollment: 188 participants

Interventions

• GENETIC: Genetic analysis — Compare BDNF polymorphism among responders and non-responders

Primary Outcomes

• Score on Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (At 3 weeks and 6 weeks)

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient suffering a severe depressive episode (according to DSM-IV), evolving since at least 2 weeks before entering the study
* Age superior to 18 years
* Caucasian type
* In absence of any medicinal treatment that could enhance depression: methyldopa, beta-blockers, reserpine,
* In absence of hypothyroidia or anaemia
* Without comorbidity that could affect therapy response : e.g. food disorder, substance abuse or dependence syndrome

Exclusion Criteria:

\- Will be excluded from the study the patients for which a modification of the depression diagnosis (according to the DSM-IV criteria) takes place during the period of study

Trial Locations

• CPU CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

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