Abstract
Background: Recent research suggests that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play a role in extinction learning. The goal of this study was to test whether variation in the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is related to treatment response to exposure-based cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), a form of extinction learning, in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: One hundred and six OCD patients from a specialized clinic, who underwent a standardized CBT treatment after partial or non-response to a 12-week pharmacological trial, were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met and the relationship between genotype and treatment response was analyzed. Results: Among 98 CBT completers, 36% of those carrying the BDNF Met allele were rated as CBT responders compared to 60% of nonMet allele carriers (. P=. 0.027). When analyzing the different obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions, in patients with contamination/cleaning symptoms, the Met allele was associated with a significantly worse CBT response (. P<. 0.0001) and a lower obsessions severity decrease from pre- to posttreatment (. P=. 0.046). Conclusion: Genetic variation in BDNF may be associated with treatment response in exposure-based CBT in OCD, especially in those patients exhibiting contamination/cleaning symptoms. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 386-390 |
Journal | European Psychiatry |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2012 |
Keywords
- BDNF
- Cognitive-behavior therapy
- Extinction
- Genetics
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Val66Met