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Cerebrospinal Fluid Lithium in Manic Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Max Alden Baker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
George Winokur
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Extract

The lithium ion has been found increasingly valuable in the treatment of manic illness (1, 2). In the therapeutic use of lithium there are two phases, stabilization and maintenance. These data have been reviewed by Gershon and Yuwiler (1), but a clear explanation of the pharmacodynamics involved is not evident. Animal experimentation has been used to study the behaviour of the lithium ion as compared with other cations. The lithium ion's behaviour resembles sodium in some tissues and enzyme systems but is more like potassium in others. These authors have reported a three- to fourfold increase in the tolerance for toxic symptoms due to lithium ion in manic patients as compared to normals. They found that this increased tolerance decreased to normal as the patient's manic state subsided.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1966 

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References

1. Gershon, S., and Yuwiler, A. (1960). “Lithium ion: a specific psychopharmacological approach to therapy.” J. Neuropsychiat., 1, 229.Google Scholar
2. Maggs, R. (1963). “Treatment of manic illness with lithium carbonate.” Brit. J. Psychiat., 109, 56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Epstein, R. Grant, L., Herjanic, M., and Winokur, G. (1965). “Urinary excretion of lithium in mania.” J. Amer. med. Ass., 192, 409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Leusen, L., and Demeester, G. (1950). “Action centrale du lithium.” Arch. internat. Pharmacodyn. et Thérap., 81, 390.Google Scholar
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