思覺失調症病人之血清腦源性神經營養因子與社會認知、社會功能之關係

Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor, Social Cognition and Social Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

目的：血清腦源性神經營養因素 (rain–derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) 思覺失調症病人的神經認知功能有關。本研究探討思覺失調症病人之BDNF 與社會認知、社會功能之關係。方法：採立意取樣招募29 名精神科門診之思覺失調症病人。以視覺搜尋作業、臉部表情辨識作業，與社會功能量表來評估社會認知，包括視覺注意力、臉部表情辨識，以及社會功能。透過免疫分析套組(ELISA Kit) 分析血清的BDNF 蛋白質含量。結果：高社會功能相較於低社會功能的思覺失調症病人，呈現較高的特徵搜尋 (t = -2.52, p < 0.05) 臉部表情辨識正確率 (t = -2.63, p < 0.05)。臉部表情辨識與社會功能總分 (r = 0.39, p < 0.05)、臉部表情辨識與獨立表現的社會功能 (r = 0.45, p < 0.05)、特徵搜尋正確率與社會功能總分 (r = 0.50, p <0.01)，以及組合搜尋正確率與社會功能總分 (r = 0.46, p < 0.05) 呈現顯著正相關。但特徵搜尋反應時間與社會功能總分 (r = -0.38, p < 0.05)、特徵搜尋反應時間與社會功能的娛樂分量表(r = -0.38, p < 0.05) 呈現顯著負相關。更重要的是，BDNF 與社會功能的人際溝通分量表 (r =-0.42, p < 0.05)，以及BDNF 與組合搜尋正確率 (r = -0.49, p < 0.05) 呈現顯著負相關。結論：本研究結果指出BDNF 在思覺失調症病人之社會認知與社會功能可能扮演重要角色。

Objectives: The serum brain–derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is related to neurocognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. This study studied the associations between BDNF and social cognition as well as social function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: We recruited 29 patients with schizophrenia with convenience sampling in outpatient clinics. The Visual Search Task, Facial Expressive Identification, and Social Function Scale were used to assess social cognition including visual attention, facial expression identification, and social function. Serum BDNF protein levels were measured using an ELISA kit. Results: A significantly higher accuracy rate of feature search (t = -2.52, p ＜ 0.05), and a significantly higher facial expression identification (t = -2.63, p ＜ 0.05) existed in the high social function group than in the low social function group. Significant positive associations existed between facial expression identification and total score of social function (r = 0.39, p ＜ 0.05). Significant relations were also found between facial expression identification and independence-performance of social function (r = 0.45, p ＜ 0.05), accuracy rate of feature search and total score of social function (r = 0.50, p ＜ 0.01), and reaction time of conjunction search and total score of social function (r = 0.46, p ＜ 0.05). But significant negative associations existed between reaction time of feature search and total score of social function (r = -0.38, p ＜ 0.05) as well as reaction time of feature search and recreation of social function (r = -0.38, p ＜ 0.05). What's more, significant negative associations existed between BDNF serum level and interpersonal communication of social function (r = -0.42, p ＜ 0.05) as well as BDNF serum level and accuracy rate of conjunction search (r = -0.49, p ＜ 0.05). Conclusion: This study results suggest that BDNF might play an important rôle in social cognition and social function in patients with schizophrenia.