Interplay between childhood trauma and BDNF val66met variants on blood BDNF mRNA levels and on hippocampus subfields volumes in schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders

The current findings demonstrate that the reduced BDNF mRNA levels found in psychosis may be associated with both a history of childhood trauma and BDNF val66met variants. Further, our study supports a two hit model including a history of childhood trauma as well as genetic vulnerability (met carriers of the BDNF val66met) behind reduced volume of hippocampal subfields in psychosis. This was specifically found for areas important for neurogenesis, the CA2/3and the CA4 DG.