Ok, no so scared of lithium. If you remember one of my previous posts, I described how MRI scans show that the hippocampus in bipolar patients might be reduced in size, similar to schizophrenia. Well, I just came across another resource about lithium that makes me feel a little better about it. Lithium might increase brain mass.
Without treatment, there seems to be an overall decrease in brain volume in the areas of the hippocampus. But, in a meta analysis on lithium, it appears that patients have increased the volume of the hippocampus compared to healthy patients. What this indicates is something crucial. Not only does lithium appear to work, but it appears to correct some of the damage that bipolar disorder does and is. This at least makes me much warmer to the idea of taking lithium. If it corrects the disorder rather than covering it up, then I’m far more inclined to take it.
Philosophy, Science, Bipolar I, and Life
Ok, no so scared of lithium. If you remember one of my previous posts, I described how MRI scans show that the hippocampus in bipolar patients might be reduced in size, similar to schizophrenia. Well, I just came across another resource about lithium that makes me feel a little better about it. Lithium might increase brain mass.
Without treatment, there seems to be an overall decrease in brain volume in the areas of the hippocampus. But, in a meta analysis on lithium, it appears that patients have increased the volume of the hippocampus compared to healthy patients. What this indicates is something crucial. Not only does lithium appear to work, but it appears to correct some of the damage that bipolar disorder does and is. This at least makes me much warmer to the idea of taking lithium. If it corrects the disorder rather than covering it up, then I’m far more inclined to take it.
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2011/02/lithium-increased-brain-volume-bipolar-disorder/