Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in different neurophysiological processes, including those involved in alcohol- and anxiety-related behaviors. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that chronic excessive alcohol use leads to a downregulation of BDNF production in the periphery and in the brain. In addition, a decrease in BDNF concentrations in the blood has been reported to be associated with increased anxiety levels. Non-treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals with high trait anxiety were studied to assess whether serum BDNF concentrations may be linked to self-reported levels of alcohol drinking, anxiety, and other behavioral measures. Participants had a current diagnosis of alcohol dependence, high trait anxiety score, and were not seeking treatment for alcohol dependence or anxiety. A fasting blood sample was collected from each participant and serum BDNF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Behavioral data were collected on the same day, including measures of alcohol drinking, craving, dependence severity, and anxiety. Bivariate correlations were run between BDNF levels and behavioral measures. Serum BDNF concentrations were negatively correlated with average drinks per drinking days (r = −0.41, p = 0.02) and positively correlated with obsessive-compulsive drinking scale (r = 0.48, p = 0.007) and state-trait anxiety inventory (r = 0.52, p = 0.003) scores. These findings shed light on the possible role of the BDNF system in the neurobiology of alcohol- and anxiety-related behaviors.

脑源性神经营养因子 (BDNF) 在不同的神经生理过程中发挥作用，包括与酒精和焦虑相关的行为有关的过程。临床前和临床研究表明，长期过量饮酒会导致外周和大脑中 BDNF 产生的下调。此外，据报道，血液中 BDNF 浓度的降低与焦虑水平的增加有关。研究了具有高特质焦虑的非寻求治疗的酒精依赖个体，以评估血清 BDNF 浓度是否可能与自我报告的饮酒、焦虑和其他行为测量水平有关。参与者目前被诊断为酒精依赖，高特质焦虑评分，并且没有寻求酒精依赖或焦虑的治疗。从每位参与者收集空腹血样，并使用酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA) 测量血清 BDNF。在同一天收集行为数据，包括对饮酒、渴望、依赖严重程度和焦虑的测量。双变量相关性在 BDNF 水平和行为测量之间运行。血清BDNF浓度与每饮酒天的平均饮酒量呈负相关（r  = -0.41, p  = 0.02) 并与强迫饮酒量表 ( r  = 0.48, p  = 0.007) 和状态-特质焦虑量表 ( r  = 0.52, p  = 0.003) 得分呈正相关。这些发现阐明了 BDNF 系统在酒精和焦虑相关行为的神经生物学中的可能作用。