Lithium is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Lithium is in a class of medications called antimanic agents. It works by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain.
The response of patients with bipolar disorder to mood stabilizers varies. About one-third of lithium-treated patients are excellent lithium responders (ELR), showing total prevention of the episodes. Clinical characteristics which correlate with favorable response to lithium include clinical course, family history of mood disorders, and psychiatric comorbidity.3 Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in bipolar disorders and lithium response suggest roles for the following genes: BDNF, AMPA, ACCN1, SLC4A10 and the neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK2) gene.[2,3]
Mutations in the NTRK2 gene have been associated with obesity and mood disorders. There is increasing evidence supporting the relationship between bipolar disorder and neurotrophin.1 Neurotrophins are growth factors that induce the development and function of nerve cells. A study1 showed that NTRK2 gene polymorphism likely plays an essential role in treatment response to mood stabilizers in Han Chinese patients with bipolar disorder.
Related to:
Lithane, Lithobid, Mania, Bipolar disorder, NTRK2 gene