Brain GABA levels in patients with bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
A growing body of research supports an important role for GABA in the pathophysiology of bipolar and other mood disorders. The purpose of the current study was to directly examine brain GABA levels in a clinical sample of bipolar patients.


METHODS
We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to examine whole brain and regional GABA, glutamate and glutamine in 13 patients with bipolar disorder compared to a matched group of 11 healthy controls.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in GABA, glutamate or glutamine between patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research is needed to better characterize the GABAergic and glutamatergic effects of pharmacotherapy, anxiety comorbidity and clinical state in bipolar disorder.
Kaufman
Rebecca E
RE
Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
Ostacher
Michael J
MJ
Marks
Elizabeth H
EH
Simon
Naomi M
NM
Sachs
Gary S
GS
Jensen
J Eric
JE
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
Pollack
Mark H
MH
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid