IntroductionThe brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin fundamentally involved in the differentiation and growth during brain development. BDNF has pathogenically been linked to the schizophrenia neurodevelopmental hypothesis. Several studies have found lower BDNF blood levels in chronic schizophrenia than controls. Few studies suggest that BDNF levels in first-episode psychosis (FEP) are lower than in healthy controls (HC).ObjectiveComparing serum BDNF levels in a group of antipsychotic-naive FEP with HC and determining the serum BDNF pattern during the first year illness evolution.MethodsSerum BDNF levels at admission of 28 inpatients with FEP were compared with 28 age/gender matched HC. BDNF was also measured at discharge, three, six, nine and twelve months. After discharge, antipsychotics were gradually decreased. Results are presented as mean±sd. and BDNF levels in ng./ml.ResultsAt admission, patients BDNF levels were significantly lower than controls (18.06±4.06 vs 26.55±3.22, p>0.001). At discharge FEP levels increase until HC levels without significant differences between gropus (25.95±3.93 vs 26.55±3.22, p=0.539). Upon the following determinations, BDNF FEP levels progressively decreased, reaching the admission values, and being significantly lower than the controls and that levels at discharge (patients: three months: 19.68±3.88; six months: 19.02±4.13; nine months: 17.64±5.24; twelve months: 17.51±3.45 vs controls: 26.55±3.22, all p>0.001).ConclusionsOur results confirm the studies that found lower BDNF levels in chronic schizophrenia. Serum BDNF levels could be considered as a biological marker of treatment and evolution of FEP. Further studies with FEP patients with and without treatment are warranted.

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Introduction: Tapentadol is a centrally-acting synthetic analgesic which acts as a mu-opioid receptor agonist as well as a norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor. It is use to treat cronic pain. Most prevalence adverse effects are gastrointestinal and nervous symptoms. Furthermore, it has objectified, with less frequency, psychiatric disturbances. Objetives: To analyse the relationship between a maniac episode and tapentadol. Methods: Forty-nine-year-old female, with personal history of dyslipidemia and lumbar herniated discs in L4-L5, L5-S1, in treatment with tapentadol 200 mg/day for 20 days and no past psychiatric history. She was admitted to the Psychiatry Department due to a maniac episode, with desinhibition, pressure and loud speech, euphoria, megalomaniac delusion and sleep disturbance for the last 10 days. Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) was 36 points. Olanzapina 15 mg/day was introduced and tapentadol was removed. Symptoms remitted quickly and 6 days later, at discharge, YMRS was 4 points. One year later, the patient continued to be asymptomatic. Results: Opioids can produce psychiatric disorders like hallucination, sleep disorders, depressed mood, disorientation, agitation, nervousness, restlessness, euphoric mood. Secondary mania to tapentadol mechanism is unknown, but having opiate cases described, it is possible to attribute this episode to tapentadol. Conclusions:-Secondary mania is associated with various medical conditions, including vitamin B12 deficiency, brain injury, HIV infection and drugs such as alcohol, caffeine, sympathomimetics, steroids, bupropion, isoniazid, clarithromycin and opioids.-Further research is required to determine if the maniac episode was only isolated by the tapentadol or it is the beginning of a bipolar disorder.