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Table 7 Long-term changes in serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in responders at week 24

From: Effect of mirtazapine versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on benzodiazepine use in patients with major depressive disorder: a pragmatic, multicenter, open-label, randomized, active-controlled, 24-week trial

 

Baseline

Week 6

Week 12

Week 24

Statistics

P

Mature BDNF (ng/mL), EMS (SE)

12.7 (0.7)

11.2 (0.7)a

11.8 (0.7)a

12.1 (0.7)

F = 3.5, df = 2.4

0.027*

ProBDNF (pg/mL), median [quartiles]

634.7 [92.4, 5381.8]

507.9 [95.6, 4975.8]

484.5 [82.5, 4471.0]

463.5 [109.5, 4018.4]b

χ 2 = 8.5, df = 3

0.036*

Ratio of mature BDNF/proBDNF, median [quartiles]

22.7 [2.1, 135.6]

27.0 [2.3, 115.5]

29.3 [2.7, 127.8]

30.4 [3.1, 153.6]

χ 2 = 1.6, df = 3

0.67

  1. Serum mature BDNF levels were analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). Adjustment for multiple comparisons was Bonferroni. Serum proBDNF levels and ratio of mature BDNF/proBDNF levels were analyzed using Friedman’s test followed by Wilcoxon signed rank test
  2. BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor, EMS estimated marginal means, SE standard error, CI confidence interval
  3. aMean differences in serum mature BDNF levels at week 6 (−1.4 ng/mL, SE = 0.5, 95 % CI −2.7 to –0.07, P = 0.035) and at week 12 (−0.8 ng/mL, SE = 0.3, 95 % CI −1.7 to −0.01, P = 0.045) were significantly decreased compared to the baseline levels
  4. bSerum proBDNF levels at week 24 were significantly decreased compared to the baseline levels (Z = −2.4, P = 0.019). *P < 0.05, n = 27