A growing number of studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with weight gain during antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia patients. However, there is still a lack of research results in the initial stage of antipsychotic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between weight gain caused by risperidone monotherapy for 12 weeks and BDNF level in antipsychotic-naive and first-episode (ANFE) patients with schizophrenia, and we hypothesize that this may depend on BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism. In a 12-week longitudinal trial, 225 ANFE patients were enrolled and treated with risperidone. Body weight was measured at baseline and during the 12-week follow-up. After treatment, the average weight of ANFE patients increased by 2.6 kg. Furthermore, we found that in patients with Val/Val genotype, the increase in serum BDNF levels was negatively correlated with risperidone-induced weight gain (r = −0.44, p = 0.008). Regression analysis showed that the baseline BDNF level was a predictor of weight gain after treatment (β = −0.45, t = −3.0, p = 0.005). Our results suggest that the BDNF signaling may be involved in weight gain caused by risperidone treatment. Furthermore, the negative association between weight gain and increased BDNF levels during risperidone treatment in ANFE schizophrenia depends on the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.

越来越多的研究表明，脑源性神经营养因子 (BDNF) 与精神分裂症患者抗精神病药物治疗期间的体重增加有关。然而，抗精神病药物治疗初期仍缺乏研究成果。本研究旨在评估利培酮单药治疗 12 周导致的体重增加与 BDNF 水平在未接受抗精神病药物和首发 (ANFE) 精神分裂症患者中的关系，我们假设这可能取决于BDNFVal66Met基因多态性。在一项为期 12 周的纵向试验中，225 名 ANFE 患者入组并接受了利培酮治疗。在基线和 12 周随访期间测量体重。治疗后，ANFE患者的平均体重增加了2.6公斤。此外，我们发现在 Val/Val 基因型患者中，血清 BDNF 水平的增加与利培酮诱导的体重增加呈负相关（r  = -0.44，p  = 0.008）。回归分析表明，基线 BDNF 水平是治疗后体重增加的预测因子（β  = -0.45，t  = -3.0，p = 0.005)。我们的研究结果表明，BDNF 信号可能与利培酮治疗引起的体重增加有关。此外，利培酮治疗 ANFE 精神分裂症期间体重增加与 BDNF 水平升高之间的负相关取决于BDNF Val66Met 多态性。