The effects of lithium and anticonvulsants on brain structure in bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of lithium, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics on brain structure in bipolar disorder (BD).


METHODS
A cross-sectional structural brain magnetic resonance imaging study of 74 remitted patients with BD, aged 18-65, who were receiving long-term prophylactic treatment with lithium or anticonvulsants or antipsychotics. Global and regional grey matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid volumes were compared between treatment groups.


RESULTS
Grey matter in the subgenual anterior cingulate gyrus on the right (extending into the hypothalamus) and in the postcentral gyrus, the hippocampus/amygdale complex and the insula on the left was greater in BD patients on lithium treatment compared to all other treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Lithium treatment in BD has a significant effect on brain structure particularly in limbic/paralimbic regions associated with emotional processing.
Germaná
C
C
Institute of Psychiatry King's College London, UK.
Kempton
M J
MJ
Sarnicola
A
A
Christodoulou
T
T
Haldane
M
M
Hadjulis
M
M
Girardi
P
P
Tatarelli
R
R
Frangou
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D008094:Lithium