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Lithium and serotonin function: implications for the serotonin hypothesis of depression
L H Price1, D S Charney, P L Delgado
1Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven.
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Lithium enhances serotonin (5-HT) function, potentially correcting abnormalities in depression. This review details lithium's preclinical and clinical effects on 5-HT pathways, suggesting primary presynaptic actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Lithium is widely used for affective disorders, but its mechanism remains unclear.
- Abnormal serotonin (5-HT) function is implicated in depression.
- Lithium may enhance antidepressant efficacy through 5-HT interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review preclinical evidence of lithium's effects on 5-HT function.
- To examine lithium's impact across various 5-HT system levels.
- To synthesize human studies on lithium's net effect on 5-HT.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical studies on lithium's effects on 5-HT precursor uptake, synthesis, storage, catabolism, release, receptors, and signaling.
- Analysis of human studies investigating lithium's impact on 5-HT function.
Main Results:
- Preclinical evidence indicates lithium affects 5-HT at multiple levels, primarily presynaptically.
- Secondary postsynaptic effects are also observed.
- Human studies generally suggest lithium enhances overall 5-HT function.
Conclusions:
- Lithium's actions on 5-HT, particularly presynaptic effects, may correct underlying functional abnormalities in depression.
- These effects could contribute to lithium's therapeutic efficacy in affective disorders.