|  | Mental Health | Bipolar Disorder

Lithuim for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder is a mental health condition which can incapacitate a person, depending on its severity. There are many strategies used to treat and control it, including therapy with specific medications. Lithium is one of those medications.

  1. History

    • Consult mental health books.

      According to PsychEducation.org, doctors discovered lithium in 1817. The first treatment using lithium was in 1948 by Doctor John Cade in Australia.

    The Facts

    • Medication

      Lithium, according to WebMD.com, is one of the most studied and used medications for Bipolar Disorder. Lithium reduces the symptoms of the disorder dramatically, but doctors are not sure why it works.

    Functions

    • Lithium affects the brain.

      Doctors think Lithium acts on the CNS, or brain and the spinal cord, as it functions as a mood stabilizer. It also reduces suicide risk, controls behavior extremes and reduces future episodes of manic phases.

    New Theories

    • Diagram of the brain.

      The scientists at the Cardiff University suggest, "Lithium affects a molecule called PIP3 that is important in controlling brain cell signaling. Lithium suppresses the production of inositol, a simple sugar from which PIP3 is made." In addition, they also state, "Increasing the amount of IMPase causes higher levels of PIP3. This can then be reduced by lithium treatment." Scientists now suggest this is how lithium works to treat Bipolar Disorder.

    Warnings

    • Lithium taken in high amounts causes the patient to become very ill. Anyone taking lithium for Bipolar Disorder needs blood tests for Lithium levels in the bloodstream at least every two weeks.

Bipolar Disorder - Related Articles