Effect of treatment with atypical drugs for 6 months on brain levels of N-acetyl aspartate or serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in early-stage first-episode schizophrenia - a preliminary study

抄録

In the present study, we investigated the effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs on brain NAA and serum BDNF levels in early-stage first-episode schizophrenia patients. Sixteen (8 males, 8 females; mean age: 30 ± 11 yr) of 18 patients were followed for 6 months. All patients were treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs. No changes in NAA concentrations in the three regions were observed from before treatment to 6 months after atypical psychotic treatment. In addition, serum BDNF levels also did not change from before to 6 months after treatment. These preliminary results suggest that relatively short-term treatment with atypical antipsychotic drugs may be unlikely to alter brain NAA concentrations and serum BDNF levels in early-stage first-episode schizophrenia.