Psychiatrists are actively using a blood test that determines the level of BDNF to assess the success of treatment for depression, German Simutkin, a leading researcher in the Department of Emotional States at the Mental Health Research Institute of the Tomsk National Medical Research Center, Medical Doctor of Sciences, psychiatrist German Simutkin, told socialbites.ca. told.
“BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is a brain-derived neurotrophic factor that controls the development and interaction of neurons. It conditionally demonstrates how successfully the nervous system works, ”the expert said.
According to Smutkin, assessment of BDNF level is important because in 10-12% of cases, treatment does not work at all. If this factor rises, antidepressant treatment can be considered positive.
“Unfortunately, there are depressions that have no cure. There are cases when antidepressants or mood stabilizers do not help at all, there are cases when they do, but not well enough to satisfy the patient and the doctor, ”explained Simutkin.
What is the difference between different types of depression, why they cannot be treated equally, what new treatment methods are available in our country and in the world, how can you distinguish simple sadness from a psychiatric disorder on your own, and when should you definitely go to the doctor? doctor – in report “socialbites.ca”.