doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52260-zengMontero-Marin, JesúsAndrés-Rodríguez, LauraTops, MattieLuciano, Juan V.Navarro-Gil, MayteFeliu-Soler, AlbertLópez-del-Hoyo, YolandaGarcia-Campayo, JavierEffects of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and low-grade inflammation among fibromyalgia patients: A randomized controlled trialART-2019-114748Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disabling syndrome characterized by chronic pain associated with fatigue. Its pathogenesis is unknown, but alterations in central sensitization, involving an imbalance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inflammatory biomarkers, appear to be implicated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of attachment-based compassion therapy (ABCT) on levels of BDNF, the inflammatory markers TNF-a, IL-6, IL-10, and the C-reactive protein (CRP), analysing whether biomarkers play a mediating/moderating role in improvements in FM functional status. Thirty-four female patients with FM participated in a RCT and were assigned to ABCT or relaxation therapy. Blood extractions were conducted at baseline and post-intervention, with self-report assessments of functional status (FIQ) at baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. A pro-inflammatory composite was obtained by summing up IL-6, TNF-a and CRP normalized values. Non-parametric tests, analysis of variance and regression models were used to evaluate treatment and mediation/moderation. Compared to relaxation therapy, ABCT showed significant improvements in FIQ and decreases in BDNF, CRP, and pro-inflammatory composite. Changes in BDNF had a mediating role in FIQ. ABCT seems to reduce BDNF and appears to have anti-inflammatory effects in FM patients. Reductions in BDNF could be a mechanism of FM functional status improvement.2019http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/8623110.1038/s41598-019-52260-zhttp://zaguan.unizar.es/record/86231oai:zaguan.unizar.es:86231info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/B17-17Rinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/CD16-00147info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII-MINECO-FEDER/RD16-0007-0005info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII/RD16-0007-0012info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/ISCIII-RD06-0018-0017Scientific Reports 9, 1 (2019), 15639 [14 pp.]byhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess