BRIEF REPORTS
BDNF levels in response to tryptophan depletion were measured. In this context, the onset of changes in BDNF mRNA expression in the brain increased as early as 15 minutes after stress exposure. Baseline BDNF levels did not differ in subjects with remitted major depressive disorder versus healthy subjects. Recent studies have reported lower BDNF levels in depressed patients during a spontaneous episode of major depressive disorder. Our results suggest that it is a dysregulation of BDNF homeostasis in the face of a serotonergic perturbation that truly represents a trait vulnerability marker for depression. Received Jan. 23, 2004; revisions received March 8, April 6, and April 22, 2004; accepted May 26, 2004. From the Section on Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology and the Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, NIMH Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Bethesda, Md. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Neumeister, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Molecular Imaging Program of the Clinical Neuroscience Division, 950 Campbell Ave., West Haven, CT 06516;
[email protected] (e-mail). Dr. Charney and Dr. Manji contributed equally to this paper. The authors thank the intramural program at NIMH and the 4 West nursing staff.
References 1. Karege F, Perret G, Bondolfi G, Schwald M, Bertschy G, Aubry JM: Decreased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in major depressed patients. Psychiatry Res 2002; 109:143– 148 2. Shimizu E, Hashimoto K, Okamura N, Koike K, Komatsu N, Kumakiri C, Nakazato M, Watanabe H, Shinoda N, Okada S, Iyo M: Alterations of serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in depressed patients with or without antidepressants. Biol Psychiatry 2003; 54:70–75 3. Lyons WE, Mamounas LA, Ricaurte GA, Coppola V, Reid SW, Bora SH, Wihler C, Koliatsos VE, Tessarollo L: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor-deficient mice develop aggressiveness and hyperphagia in conjunction with brain serotonergic abnormalities. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1999; 96:15239–15244 4. Manji HK, Quiroz JA, Sporn J, Payne JL, Denicoff K, Gray NA, Zarate CA Jr, Charney DS: Enhancing neuronal plasticity and cellular resilience to develop novel, improved therapeutics for difficult-to-treat depression. Biol Psychiatry 2003; 53:707–742 5. Pan W, Banks WA, Fasold MB, Bluth J, Kastin AJ: Transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor across the blood-brain barrier. Neuropharmacology 1998; 37:1553–1561 6. Chiaretti A, Piastra M, Polidori G, Di Rocco C, Caresta E, Antonelli A, Amendola T, Aloe L: Correlation between neurotrophic factor expression and outcome of children with severe traumatic brain injury. Intensive Care Med 2003; 29: 1329–1338
Brief Report
Enhanced Early Morning Salivary Cortisol in Neuroticism Maria J. Portella, M.Sc. Catherine J. Harmer, D.Phil. Jonathan Flint, D.Phil. Philip Cowen, M.D., F.R.C.Psych. Guy M. Goodwin, D.Phil., F.R.C.Psych. Objective: Neuroticism is a predisposing factor for major depression. The increase in salivary cortisol that follows waking provides a reliable measure of adrenocortical activity, and this response is increased in recovered depressed patients. This study compared waking cortisol levels in healthy subjects with high and low levels of neuroticism without a previous history of depression.
Method: Salivary cortisol levels were measured upon waking and at 15-minute intervals for the next hour in volunteers selected to have high (>19/23) or low (
