No association between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene Val66Met polymorphism and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia (TD) in schizophrenia.

METHODS

Genotyping was performed for the BDNF gene Val66Met SNP in Korean schizophrenic patients with (n=83) and without TD (n=126) who were matched for antipsychotic drug exposure and other relevant variables.

RESULTS

The frequencies of genotypes (chi2=2.37, p=0.306) and alleles (chi2=0.03, p=0.867) did not differ significantly between these two groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the BDNF polymorphism does not play a major role in the susceptibility to TD in schizophrenic patients.