April 1, 2017, PARIS, France—Surviving physical abuse as a child appears to make people with bipolar disorder less likely to respond to treatment with lithium later in life, a new study suggests.
French and British researchers looked at almost 150 people with bipolar disorder currently in a stable mood. They found about 20 percent responded excellently to lithium and about half were partial responders. The other 30 per cent showed no response.
The study found that a higher level of childhood physical abuse significantly correlated with a lower level of response to lithium. In addition, a history of mixed bipolar episodes was independently associated with poor response to lithium.
The study, which appeared in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, was entitled “Childhood trauma and mixed episodes are associated with poor response to lithium in bipolar disorders.”
Source: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acps.12684/abstract
Code: bphopekids
Although medication is the primary treatment for bipolar disorder, adding specific vitamins or supplements might provide additional relief from symptoms. Here’s what the research shows. Navigating treatment options beyond medications can be an important part of managing bipolar disorder, and vitamins and supplements may provide a supportive role. They not only have the potential to...
READ MORE
Lithium, a cornerstone in bipolar disorder treatment, requires discussing management considerations with your doctor to tailor treatment to your needs. Lithium has a long and storied history in medicine, dating back to 1859 when it was considered a possible treatment for gout. These days, lithium (Eskalith, Eskalith-CR, Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs) is regarded as the “gold...
READ MORE
Our understanding of bipolar disorder and its management has significantly evolved, with individuals actively participating in their own care. As history shows, we’ve come a long way. Though it’s impossible to trace the first case of bipolar depression or mania, much is known about the evolution of its identification and subsequent classification and naming as...
READ MORE
Julie A. Fast uses her extensive research and personal experience to offer strategies for managing bipolar disorder. Read more in this Q&A about how her insights can guide confident management and deepen our understanding of this brain-based illness. Julie A. Fast is a recognized authority in the mental health field. She is known for her...
READ MORE
My wife just got off lithium,did not work! Childhood abuse she grew up with…yesterday went off the wall in hospital..starting over again.
I love my wife,2 great kids this illness is devastating to her and are family..I take one day at a time.
You are a good man for sticking with her and battling the disorder and not her.