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Abnormalities in brain development and plasticity have been associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in schizophrenia is the recent area of interest because it regulates neurogenesis. The current study aimed to assess and compare serum BDNF levels between first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, and evaluate its correlation with the socio-demographic and clinical variables.

It was a cross-sectional comparative study for the assessment of serum BDNF levels between patients with first-episode schizophrenia (N=50) and healthy controls (N-50) conducted in the Department of Psychiatry at a tertiary care public hospital attached to a medical school in North India. Participants were assessed for the socio-demographic parameters, nicotine dependence, and clinical details using structured scales. Serum …