Effects Of Lithium On Memory And Cognition

As a counselor works with clients, one may have to work with a client that are taking psychotropic medication. A client named Kimberly disclosed in a session that she has Bipolar Disorder. She is a 19 year old African American woman. Kimberly has been experiencing symptoms of Bipolar Disorder for three years. Before beginning to take lithium, Kimberly has run away from home, displays erratic behaviors, has using marijuana to relieve symptoms, and attempting suicide when experiencing severe depression. Kimberly has also attempted suicide. Kimberly’s mental illness has affected her relationship with her mother and put a financial strain on the household. Kimberly was arrested and charged with the possession of marijuana.

s mood swings. Mood stabilizers can decrease both manic and depressive episodes for the rest of the patient’s life. Lithium carbonate is one of the first mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorders, and it’s actually a type of salt (Rosenberg & Kosslyn, 2011). Research shows that lithium affects several different neurotransmitters, causing alterations in the inner workings of neurons. However, lithium does not effectively work for everyone, and high levels of lithium cause very severe side effects. Such as coordination problems, vomiting, muscular weakness, blurred vision, and even ringing in the ears (Rosenberg & Kosslyn, 2011). At least fifty percent of patients who are prescribed lithium carbonate cannot tolerate the side effects, or show no improvement at all. If this occurs other mood stabilizers known as antiepileptic medications may be taken, including Divalproex, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and gabapentin (Rosenberg & Kosslyn, 2011). A research study that was performed on

There is more to the treatment of bipolar disorder than medication, but the medication Lithium has been the primary treatment since the 1960’s. In four studies

In times past many people thought that memory loss was a normal occurrence for elderly people. This thinking was major reason for why Alzheimer’s disease was not caught until very later in the stages. Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. After heart disease, cancer, and strokes, Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of death in adults in the Western world. “It is estimated that 4.5 million Americans over the age of 65 are affected with this condition. After the age of 65, the incidence of the disease doubles every five years and, by age 85, it will affect nearly half of the population” (Robinson).

This article is a study conducted on the effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on the cognitive functions in bipolar disorder (BD). This article informs the readers that BD, a disorder characterized by extreme mood swings of mania and depression. BD is also found to alter cognitive functions. The use of NAC as a form of treatment is an adjunct therapy for the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as NAC intake showed an increase in antioxidant and glutathione levels, decrease inflammatory cytokines, and enhance neurogenesis. The double-blind and placebo-controlled study mentioned in this article was to determine if 2000 mg per day of NAC intake would improve cognitive function in a period of six months. The participants were randomly assigned to taking 2000mg/day of NAC or a placebo. After six months, the results of the NAC intake showed that symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder improved. The functioning and quality of life also improved, but there was no change in the cognitive functions of a person with bipolar disorder. This study, however, was not able to support its hypothesis on cognitive improvement, but it emphasized NAC’s effectiveness in bipolar disorder therapy.

Throughout history there have been reports of decreased memory and mental deterioration that accompanied old age. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer who described the symptoms in a woman in Germany in the 1907 but it was not until the 1970’s that AD was considered to be a major disorder and AD continues to be a major health concern worldwide (Reger, 2002).

The most striking impact was found for the hospitalization rate, which fell by 82 per cent (3). This has considerable economic significance, as hospitalization accounts for a major proportion of direct costs in major psychiatric illness. It is important to note that all of this evidence far exceeds the available support for possible alternatives to lithium treatment, including application of anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, or sedative agents. Still, investigators have yet to discover the pharmacological effects of lithium that are responsible for its ability to eliminate mania. Many posit that the drug stabilizes the population of certain classes of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain (particularly serotonin receptors), preventing wide shifts in neural sensitivity, and in turn, influencing mood (4).

When a patient is receiving pharmacotherapy they are under the influence of some medication. The most common drug prescribed to treat bipolar is lithium (Newman et al.). One of the main functions of lithium is to keep a euthymic individual from falling into deeper mania or depressed episodes. A euthymic individual is one that experiences “normal” non depressed feelings and mostly always demonstrates a reasonably positive mood (Mondimore). One of the biggest mistakes that bipolar patients commit is of stopping the lithium intake before they are supposed to. Patients often fail to realize that lithium not only treats active symptoms but it also helps prevent future symptoms (Newman et al.). Other medications that have been approved by the FDA for bipolar patients are Divalproex (Depakote) and Carbamazepine which are anti convulsing agents (Tegratol). Both Depakote and Tegratol are often used in combination with lithium to reduce the mania episodes in bipolar disorder. Depakote is especially useful during the treatment of rapid cycling, a term used when an individual experiences four or more manic or depressive episodes a

Lithium Carbonate is the most commonly drug that is prescribed for treating bipolar disorder (May, Hickey, Triantis, Palazidou, & Kyriacou, 2015). It works as a mood stabilizer that significantly reduces excessive behaviors and suicidal tendencies. However, the way that lithium exerts its impact on mood is still unknown. One study suggests that key of lithium therapeutic actions are the neuroprotective effects (Malhi, Tanious, Das, Coulston, & Berk 2013). For instance, lithium has been demonstrated to decrease the oxidative stress that involves in multiple episodes of mania and depression. Other study recommends that lithium stabilize electrical

The association between Wnt and bipolar disorder has recently been supported by biological evidence that increasing the levels of GSk-3β reverses the effects of lithium in the body. This is a direct explanation of how lithium and other drugs are effective in the treatment of bipolar patients.

Lithium is primarily used for treating acute mania. However, lithium may also treat the manic and depressive episodes of the disorder. In addition, lithium is known for its prevention of suicide compared to other treatment options. Though, with any medication there will be side effects. Side effects associated with lithium include increased thirst, increased urination, rashes, dry mouth, bloating, diarrhea, and weight gain. In certain cases, the toxicity of lithium may cause renal failure. However, these side effects may diminish with monitoring and proper dosage by a

In this experiment there were 62 participants that were diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder and 50 control participants that had no diagnosis of a lifetime mood disorder. The people that were participating were recruited from the Bay Area Community in California. Everyone was fluent English speakers and ranged between 18 and 65 years old. Neither with no history of brain injury or medical conditions of the central nervous system and no show of impaired mental status or developmental disability. Every

Bipolar disorder is a serious illness that can upset a person’s entire life if they do not receive proper medical or therapeutic treatment to manage the presenting symptoms. Bipolar disorder includes an array of moods that can range from extreme highs (mania, hypomania) and extreme lows (bipolar depression) that can be treated by medication. One medication that works well in treating the highs and lows, while preventing further mood upsets is lithium. Lithium has effectively treated mood instability associated with bipolar disorder for decades and, while being such a widely used drug, the positive and negative side effects have to be examined, along with other medication options in the

Lithium is a top choice for acute mania and for maintenance in ‘classic’ bipolar disorder. Because of its narrow therapeutic range, blood levels must be monitored; also heart and kidney function (EKG, blood and urine tests). Medications such as diuretics, that block its excretion require caution.

There are not nearly as many treatments for bipolar disorder. In fact, there is only one treatment that seems to have lasting effects. This treatment uses therapy with a professional coupled with medications. “Antibipolar drugs, also called mood stabilizers, help steady the mood of those with a bipolar disorder” (Chapter 2, 2009). The advances in treatment are due to the discovery of lithium as a medication. This drug works extremely well to eliminate manic episodes and even help with the depression. The drugs