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

168
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...
168
Lifestyle Factors and Health01:20

Lifestyle Factors and Health

43
Lifestyle factors play a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases. Key elements, such as regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and abstinence from smoking, can significantly enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being while reducing the risk of several life-threatening conditions.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
43
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

139
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
139
Bipolar Disorder01:30

Bipolar Disorder

65
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.
65
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

97
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
97
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements01:27

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

16.6K
Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
16.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The relevance of phenotypic definition in treatment resistant forms of major depressive disorder: a narrative review.

Frontiers in pharmacology·2026
Same author

Integrating Genetic Variants and Expression Profiles of Pharmacogenes to Investigate Resistance to Antidepressant Treatment.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2026
Same author

DNA methylation signatures associated with bipolar disorder in peripheral blood improve prediction models.

EBioMedicine·2026
Same author

The effect of childhood trauma on the severity of depressive symptoms and drug resistance in major depressive disorder - results from the international PROMPT study.

Journal of affective disorders·2026
Same author

Pharmacogenetic testing in Italy: results of a nationwide survey by the Joint Working Group for the pharmacogenetics implementation in Italy.

European journal of human genetics : EJHG·2026
Same author

From pharmacokinetic genes to polygenic scores and multi-omic integration: advances toward precision psychiatry.

Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2025

The Tail Suspension Test
10:17

The Tail Suspension Test

Published on: January 28, 2012

80.0K

Lithium and its effects: does dose matter?

Mirko Manchia1,2,3, Pasquale Paribello4,5, Martina Pinna6

  • 1Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. mirko.manchia@unica.it.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders
|June 24, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lithium is effective for bipolar disorder (BD), but lower doses may treat suicidal ideation and cognitive decline. Further research is needed to understand low-dose lithium

Keywords:
BDNFDrinking waterGSK-3BetaMicro-doseSuicide

More Related Videos

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries
10:41

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries

Published on: May 22, 2018

36.8K
Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells
12:55

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Published on: October 10, 2017

8.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2025

The Tail Suspension Test
10:17

The Tail Suspension Test

Published on: January 28, 2012

80.0K
Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries
10:41

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries

Published on: May 22, 2018

36.8K
Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells
12:55

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Published on: October 10, 2017

8.9K

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry and Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Lithium is a well-established treatment for acute episodes and recurrence prevention in bipolar disorder (BD).
  • Its antisuicidal effects extend beyond mood stabilization, but its narrow therapeutic index necessitates careful monitoring.
  • The conventional threshold for adequate serum lithium levels is 0.6 mEq/L, though evidence for lower effective concentrations is emerging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically review clinical evidence supporting the 0.6 mEq/L lithium threshold.
  • To synthesize evidence for lithium's efficacy at lower doses, including neuroprotective effects.
  • To explore biological data and propose a mechanistic hypothesis for low-dose lithium action.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of existing clinical and epidemiological studies.
  • Study selection based on authors' expertise and a comprehensive literature search strategy.
  • Focus on evidence related to lithium's effects on mood, suicidality, aggression, and neurodegeneration.

Main Results:

  • Lithium's mood-stabilizing effects are maximal at concentrations above 0.6 mEq/L.
  • Lower lithium levels may suffice for preventing depressive recurrences in older adults and reducing suicide risk in BD patients.
  • Sub-therapeutic lithium doses demonstrate neuroprotective effects, potentially mitigating cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and ALS.

Conclusions:

  • Lithium exhibits dose-dependent clinical and molecular effects.
  • Low-dose lithium shows promise for specific indications like suicide prevention and neuroprotection.
  • Further research is required to elucidate the molecular targets and mechanisms of low-dose lithium.