Case Control Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Psychiatry. Dec 19, 2023; 13(12): 995-1004
Published online Dec 19, 2023. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i12.995
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, sex hormones and cognitive decline in male patients with schizophrenia receiving continuous antipsychotic therapy
Jin Li, Wen-Huan Xiao, Fei Ye, Xiao-Wei Tang, Qiu-Fang Jia, Xiao-Bin Zhang
Jin Li, Qiu-Fang Jia, Xiao-Bin Zhang, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215137, Jiangsu Province, China
Wen-Huan Xiao, Fei Ye, Xiao-Wei Tang, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Wutaishan Hospital of Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Qiu-Fang Jia and Xiao-Bin Zhang.
Author contributions: Li J and Zhang XB designed the study and manuscript preparation; Li J and Xiao WH recruited subjects, collected clinical data, laboratory samples, and cognitive assessment and did preliminary data analysis; Ye F and Tang XW assisted in the symptoms of schizophrenia assessment and data analysis; Jia QF did literature search, final analysis of the data, and prepared the final manuscript; All authors contributed to manuscript preparation and approved its final version. Qiu-Fang Jia and Xiao-Bin Zhang contributed equally to this work as co-corresponding authors. The reasons for designating Qiu-Fang Jia and Xiao-Bin Zhang as co-corresponding authors are threefold. First, the research was performed as a collaborative effort, and the designation of co-corresponding authorship accurately reflects the distribution of responsibilities and burdens associated with the time and effort required to complete the study and the resultant paper. This also ensures effective communication and management of post-submission matters, ultimately enhancing the paper's quality and reliability. Second, the overall research team encompassed authors with a variety of expertise and skills from different fields, and the designation of co-corresponding authors best reflects this diversity. This also promotes the most comprehensive and in-depth examination of the research topic, ultimately enriching readers' understanding by offering various expert perspectives. Third, Qiu-Fang Jia and Xiao-Bin Zhang contributed efforts of equal substance throughout the research process. The choice of these researchers as co-corresponding authors acknowledges and respects this equal contribution, while recognizing the spirit of teamwork and collaboration of this study. In summary, we believe that designating Qiu-Fang Jia and Xiao-Bin Zhang as co-corresponding authors of is fitting for our manuscript as it accurately reflects our team's collaborative spirit, equal contributions, and diversity.
Supported by This study was supported by the Suzhou Municipal Sci-Tech Bureau Program, No. SS202070; Scientific and Technological Program of Suzhou, No. SS202069; Suzhou clinical Medical Center for mood disorders, No. Szlcyxzx202109; Suzhou Clinical Key Disciplines for Geriatric Psychiatry, No. SZXK202116; Suzhou Key Technologies Program, No. SKY2021063; Jiangsu Province social development project, No. BE2020764; Research Project of Jiangsu Commission of Health, No. M2020031; Elderly Health Research Project of Jiangsu Commission of Health, No. LR2022015 and No. LKZ2023020.
Institutional review board statement: The WuTaiShan Hospital Ethics Committee approved the study (approval No. 2018-011).
Informed consent statement: The written informed consent was provided by each participant.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Bin Zhang, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, No. 11 Guangqian Road, Suzhou 215137, Jiangsu Province, China. zhangxiaobim@163.com
Received: August 26, 2023
Peer-review started: August 26, 2023
First decision: September 5, 2023
Revised: October 4, 2023
Accepted: November 9, 2023
Article in press: November 9, 2023
Published online: December 19, 2023
Processing time: 115 Days and 4.7 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Due to gender differences in the clinical manifestations of schizophrenia (SCZ), this study assumes that sex hormones directly or indirectly alter the clinical manifestations of SCZ.

Research motivation

An increasing number of studies have shown that sex hormones act through brain derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), which can also affect the expression of sex hormone receptors.

Research objectives

The purpose of this study is to explore the significant impact of the interaction between BDNF and sex hormones on the clinical manifestations and cognitive function of chronic antipsychotic-treated male (CATM) SCZ patients.

Research methods

We used a cross-sectional case-control study method to collect blood from both normal control and CATM SCZ patients for testing BDNF and sex hormone levels, as well as cognitive function in both groups.

Research results

We found a significant decrease in estradiol (E2) levels in the patient group, and a significant correlation between prolactin levels and negative symptom scores. In the entire sample, there is a positive correlation between E2 level, BDNF level, and the Digit Cancellation Test (reflecting attention function).

Research conclusions

Compared with the normal control group, there were changes in the levels of BDNF and sex hormones in the patient group. The levels of sex hormones in the patient group are related to negative symptoms.

Research perspectives

The interaction between BDNF and sex hormones may be involved in negative symptom expression and cognitive impairment in chronic male SCZ patients.