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Airainer M, Seifert R. Lithium, the gold standard drug for bipolar disorder: analysis of current clinical studies. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03210-8. [PMID: 38916833 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Lithium is the gold standard drug in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Despite increasing scientific interest, relatively few patients with bipolar disorder receive lithium therapy. Lithium is the only drug that is effective in the prophylaxis of manic, depressive, and suicidal symptoms. Lithium therapy is also associated with a variety of adverse drug reactions and the need for therapeutic drug monitoring. Numerous studies have focussed on the efficacy and safety of both lithium-monotherapy and lithium-add-on therapy. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic overview of clinical studies on lithium therapy for bipolar disorder from the last 7 years and to present a critical analysis of these studies. The results provide an up-to-date overview of the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of lithium therapy for bipolar disorder and thus improve the pharmacotherapy of bipolar disorder. A total of 59 studies were analysed using various analysis parameters. The studies were also categorised into different subgroups. These are lithium-monotherapy, lithium vs. placebo/drug, and lithium + adjunctive therapy. The majority of the studies (N = 20) had a duration of only 3-8 weeks. Only 13 studies lasted for > 40 weeks. Lithium was superior to aripiprazole, valproic acid, and quetiapine in terms of improving manic symptoms. Lithium therapy resulted in a lower relapse rate compared to valproic acid therapy. Lithium was more neuroprotectively effective than quetiapine. Fourteen of the 22 add-on therapies to lithium showed a predominantly positive effect on the treatment outcome compared to lithium-monotherapy. Only the add-on therapy with sertraline led to a higher rate of study discontinuations than lithium-monotherapy. Lithium is a safe and effective treatment option for children. However, risperidone and quetiapine were superior to lithium in some aspects, which is why these drugs should be considered as an alternative treatment option for children. Collectively, current clinical studies highlight the relevance of lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Airainer
- Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, D-30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Roland Seifert
- Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, D-30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Possidente C, Fanelli G, Serretti A, Fabbri C. Clinical insights into the cross-link between mood disorders and type 2 diabetes: A review of longitudinal studies and Mendelian randomisation analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105298. [PMID: 37391112 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Mood disorders and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are prevalent conditions that often co-occur. We reviewed the available evidence from longitudinal and Mendelian randomisation (MR) studies on the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder and T2DM. The clinical implications of this comorbidity on the course of either condition and the impact of antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and antidiabetic drugs were examined. Consistent evidence indicates a bidirectional association between mood disorders and T2DM. T2DM leads to more severe depression, whereas depression is associated with more complications and higher mortality in T2DM. MR studies demonstrated a causal effect of MDD on T2DM in Europeans, while a suggestive causal association in the opposite direction was found in East Asians. Antidepressants, but not lithium, were associated with a higher T2DM risk in the long-term, but confounders cannot be excluded. Some oral antidiabetics, such as pioglitazone and liraglutide, may be effective on depressive and cognitive symptoms. Studies in multi-ethnic populations, with a more careful assessment of confounders and appropriate power, would be important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Possidente
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fanelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Serretti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Chiara Fabbri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Rohde C, Köhler-Forsberg O, Nierenberg AA, Østergaard SD. Pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder and risk of diabetes mellitus: A nationwide study of 30,451 patients. Bipolar Disord 2023; 25:323-334. [PMID: 36751986 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE While treatment with antipsychotics and antiepileptics have been associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), lithium may have the opposite effect via inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment of bipolar disorder with lithium, antipsychotics, or antiepileptics is associated with the risk of DM in a real-world clinical setting. METHODS Using nationwide registers, we identified all patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder in Danish Psychiatric Services from January 1, 1996, to January 1, 2019 (N = 30,451). The risk of developing DM was operationalized via hospital diagnoses and redeemed prescriptions for glucose-lowering drugs. For lithium, antipsychotics, valproate, and lamotrigine, we calculated hazard rate ratios (HRR) for developing DM via adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Potential cumulative dose-response-like associations were examined using the log-rank test. RESULTS During follow-up (245,181 person-years), 2107 (6.9%) patients developed DM. Compared with non-users of the respective drugs, we found no clinically or statistically significant difference in the risk of developing DM among patients receiving lithium (n = 11,690; incidence rate of DM/1000 person-years (IR) = 8.87, 95% CI: 8.02-9.90; HRR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.84-1.06) or lamotrigine (n = 11,785; IR = 7.58, 95% CI: 6.69-8.59; HRR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.77-1.02), respectively. Conversely, for patients receiving valproate (n = 5171; IR = 12.68, 95% CI: 10.87-14.80; HRR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14-1.58) and antipsychotics (n = 22,719; IR = 12.00, 95% CI: 11.14-12.94; HRR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.45-1.88), respectively, there was increased risk of developing DM. For antipsychotics, we observed a clear cumulative dose-response-like association with the risk of DM. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with valproate and antipsychotics-but not with lithium and lamotrigine-was associated with increased risk of DM in a real-world cohort of patients with bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Rohde
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole Köhler-Forsberg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrew A Nierenberg
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Søren Dinesen Østergaard
- Department of Affective Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Goldstein BI, Fiedorowicz JG. The Vascular - Bipolar Link. J Affect Disord 2023; 332:201-202. [PMID: 37024016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin I Goldstein
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Jess G Fiedorowicz
- Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; The Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Hu J, Ji Y, Lang X, Zhang XY. Association of thyroid function with abnormal lipid metabolism in young patients with first-episode and drug naïve major depressive disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1085105. [PMID: 36865071 PMCID: PMC9971224 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1085105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Abnormal lipid metabolism in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has received increasing attention. The coexistence of MDD and abnormal thyroid function has been intensively studied. Moreover, thyroid function is closely related to lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between thyroid function and abnormal lipid metabolism in young patients with first-episode and drug naïve (FEDN) MDD. METHODS A total of 1,251 outpatients aged 18-44 years with FEDN MDD were enrolled. Demographic data were collected, and lipid and thyroid function levels were measured, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TG-Ab), and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab). The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale were also assessed for each patient. RESULTS Compared with young MDD patients without comorbid lipid metabolism abnormalities, patients with comorbid lipid metabolism abnormalities had higher body mass index (BMI) values, HAMD score, HAMA score, PANSS positive subscale score, TSH levels, TG-Ab levels, and TPO-Ab levels. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that TSH level, HAMD score and BMI were risk factors for abnormal lipid metabolism. TSH levels were an independent risk factor for abnormal lipid metabolism in young MDD patients. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that both TC and LDL-C levels were positively correlated with TSH levels, HAMD and PANSS positive subscale scores, respectively. HDL-C levels were negatively correlated with TSH levels. TG levels were positively correlated with TSH and TG-Ab levels and HAMD score. DISCUSSION Our results show that thyroid function parameters, especially TSH levels, are implicated in abnormal lipid metabolism in young patients with FEDN MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieqiong Hu
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunxin Ji
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoe Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Lithium produces bi-directionally regulation of mood disturbance, acts synergistically with anti-depressive/-manic agents, and did not deteriorate the cognitive impairment in murine model of bipolar disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:359. [PMID: 36055984 PMCID: PMC9440114 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02087-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Lithium (Li) is a well-established mood disorder treatment and may be neuroprotective. Bi-directional regulation (i.e. affecting manic symptoms and depressive symptoms) by Li has not been demonstrated. This study explored: (1) bidirectional regulation by Li in murine models of depression, mania, and bipolar disorder (BP); and (2) potential Li synergism with antidepressant/anti-mania agents. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and ketamine-induced mania (KM) models were used. These methods were used in series to produce a BP model. In vivo two-photon imaging was used to visualize Ca2+ activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Depressiveness, mania, and cognitive function were assessed with the forced swim task (FST), open field activity (OFA) task, and novel object recognition task, respectively. In CUMS mice, Ca2+ activity was increased strongly by Li and weakly by lamotrigine (LTG) or valproate (VPA), and LTG co-administration reduced Li and VPA monotherapy effects; depressive immobility in the FST was attenuated by Li or LTG, and attenuated more strongly by LTG-VPA or LTG-Li; novel object exploration was increased strongly by Li and weakly by LTG-Li, and reduced by LTG, VPA, or LTG-VPA. In KM mice, Li or VPA attenuated OFA mania symptoms and normalized Ca2+ activity partially; Li improved cognitive function while VPA exacerbated the KM alteration. These patterns were replicated in the respective BP model phases. Lithium had bi-directional, albeit weak, mood regulation effects and a cognitive supporting effect. Li co-administration with antidepressant/-manic agents enhanced mood-regulatory efficacy while attenuating their cognitive-impairing effects.
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Zhuo C, Chen G, Chen J, Tian H, Ma X, Li Q, Yang L, Zhang Q, Li R, Song X, Huang C. Lithium bidirectionally regulates depression- and mania-related brain functional alterations without worsening cognitive function in patients with bipolar disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:963005. [PMID: 36186884 PMCID: PMC9520085 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.963005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Lithium monotherapy has been proposed to have antidepressant and antimanic effects in patients with bipolar disorder (BP). However, so far, it is lack of evidence to support this proposition. The main aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that lithium bidirectionally regulates depression- and mania-related brain functional abnormalities in patients with BP. We also assessed the effects of lithium, alone and in combination with other pharmacological treatments, on patients' cognitive performance. We enrolled 149 drug-naïve patients with BP; 99 patients experiencing first depressive episodes were allocated randomly to four treatment groups [lithium (DP/Li), lithium with lamotrigine (LTG; DP/Li+LTG), LTG (DP/LTG), and valproate (VPA) with LTG (DP/VPA+LTG)], and 50 experiencing first hypo-manic episodes were allocated to two treatment groups (MA/Li and MA/VPA). For comparative analysis, 60 age-matched healthy individuals were also recruited. Whole-brain global and regional resting-state cerebral blood flow (rs-CBF) and cognitive alterations were examined before and after 12-week treatment. We have the following findings: DP/Li+LTG, and to a lesser extent DP/Li, alleviated the depression-related reduction in rs-CBF. MA/VPA and MA/Li reversed the mania-related elevation of rs-CBF completely and partially, respectively. Lithium alone improved cognitive performance during depressive and manic episodes; other tested treatments have no such effect or worsened cognitive ability. Our results showed that lithium bidirectionally regulates depression- and mania-associated brain functional abnormalities in patients with BP. Lithium monotherapy has a better antimanic effect than VPA, is superior to other tested treatments in improving cognition during the course of BP, and has satisfactory antidepressant effects in patients with BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brain Circuits of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory (PNGC_Lab), Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jiayue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brain Circuits of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brain Circuits of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory (PNGC_Lab), Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianchen Li
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brain Circuits of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brain Circuits of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing of Brain Circuits of Neurology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ranli Li
- Key Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics Laboratory (PNGC_Lab), Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chunhai Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
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