Altered Plasma Levels of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Patients with Internet Gaming Disorder: A Case-Control, Pilot Study
- Author:
Jo Eun JEONG
1
;
Soo Hyun PAIK
;
Mi Ran CHOI
;
Hyun CHO
;
Jung Seok CHOI
;
Sam Wook CHOI
;
Dai Jin KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; Behavior; Addictive; Internet; Game; Recreational
- MeSH: Case-Control Studies; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Humans; Immunoglobulin D; Internet; Male; Neuroglia; Pilot Projects; Plasma
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2019;16(6):469-474
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been reported to be involved in negatively regulating the effects of addictive disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate alterations in the levels of GDNF in patients with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and to assess the relationship between GDNF levels and the severity of IGD indices. Nineteen male patients with IGD and 19 sexmatched control subjects were evaluated for alteration of plasma GDNF levels and for relationship between GDNF levels and clinical characteristics of Internet gaming, including the Young's Internet Addiction Test (Y-IAT). The GDNF levels were found to be significantly low in patients with IGD (103.2±62.0 pg/mL) compared with the levels of controls (245.2±101.6 pg/mL, p<0.001). GDNF levels were negatively correlated with Y-IAT scores (Spearman's rho=-0.645, p=<0.001) and this negative correlation remained even after controlling for multiple variables (r=-0.370, p=0.048). These findings support the assumed role of GDNF in the regulation of IGD.
