Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview01:24

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

785
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as...
785
Bipolar Disorder01:30

Bipolar Disorder

1.4K
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
1.4K
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

1.2K
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
1.2K
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

33.8K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.8K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

3.6K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.6K
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy01:26

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

676
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
676

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Benzodiazepine Use and Mortality Risk: A Nationwide Cohort Study on New Benzodiazepine Users With a 5-Year Follow-Up.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2026
Same author

Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and the Associated Risk of Hospitalisation in Bipolar Disorder, From a Nationwide Cohort, 2009-2024.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2026
Same author

Comparative Clinical Trajectories Across Cannabis-Related and Nonsubstance-Related Psychoses.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2026
Same author

Purchase of hormonal contraceptive methods after delivery: a population-based study from Finland.

BMJ sexual & reproductive health·2026
Same author

Association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national cohort study.

The lancet. Psychiatry·2026
Same author

Reduced risk of cause-specific hospitalisations and all-cause hospitalisation/mortality during treatment with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications in the course of bipolar disorder: a Swedish registry-based within-subject cohort study.

BMJ mental health·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 12, 2026

The Tail Suspension Test
10:17

The Tail Suspension Test

Published on: January 28, 2012

84.2K

Lithium is associated with decrease in all-cause and suicide mortality in high-risk bipolar patients: A nationwide

Elena Toffol1, Taina Hätönen2, Antti Tanskanen3

  • 1Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|May 26, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Lithium maintenance therapy significantly reduces suicide and all-cause mortality in high-risk bipolar patients. Other medications like valproic acid, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines were associated with increased suicide attempt risk.

Keywords:
Attempted suicideBipolarLithiumMortalitySuicide

More Related Videos

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
04:42

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Published on: May 2, 2025

1.7K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2026

The Tail Suspension Test
10:17

The Tail Suspension Test

Published on: January 28, 2012

84.2K
Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
04:42

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder

Published on: May 2, 2025

1.7K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.7K

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Bipolar disorder is associated with high mortality rates, particularly from suicide.
  • Understanding medication effects on suicide risk and mortality is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the association between psychotropic medication use and suicide attempts, completed suicides, and overall mortality in bipolar patients.
  • To compare the risks associated with lithium, antipsychotics, valproic acid, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide registry-based study followed 826 bipolar patients hospitalized for suicide attempts.
  • Follow-up duration was a mean of 3.5 years.
  • Relative risks for suicide attempts, completed suicide, and all-cause mortality were measured for various medication classes.

Main Results:

  • Valproic acid, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines were linked to an increased risk of suicide attempts.
  • Lithium use was associated with a reduced risk of suicide attempts and significantly decreased suicide mortality.
  • Lithium therapy was also related to a 49% decrease in all-cause mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Lithium maintenance therapy, unlike other studied medications, is associated with reduced suicide and all-cause mortality in high-risk bipolar patients.
  • Lithium should be considered for suicide prevention strategies in high-risk individuals with bipolar disorder.