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Lithium in children of lithium-responding parents
Insights
Lithium treatment showed a clear response in two children with bipolar affective disorder, indicating a physiological parallel with adult bipolar illness. This study explored lithium
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychiatry
- Neurophysiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Investigating lithium's efficacy in pediatric bipolar disorder.
- Examining physiological markers in child psychiatric disorders.
Observation:
- Six children (ages 6-12) of lithium-responding parents with psychopathology received lithium.
- A double-blind, crossover design assessed treatment response over 16-18 weeks.
- Average Evoked Potentials (EPs) were measured to monitor physiological changes.
Findings:
- Two children diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder showed a clear response to lithium.
- These responders exhibited significant augmentation in their EPs.
- Observed EP changes mirrored those seen in adult lithium-treated patients.
Implications:
- Suggests a shared physiological basis for bipolar disorder across pediatric and adult populations.
- Supports the use of lithium as a potential treatment for childhood bipolar disorder.
- Highlights EPs as a potential biomarker for lithium response in pediatric bipolar disorder.
Abstract:
Six offspring of manic-depressive patients, whose parents were lithium responders, were selected on the basis of their incapacitating psychopathology for treatment with lithium. The children ranged in age from 6 to 12. A double-blind, crossover design was used over 16-18 weeks. Weekly ratings were done, and average evoked potentials (EPs) were measured at each crossover. Two children diagnosed as having a bipolar affective disorder had a clear-cut response to lithium and were strong augmenters on the EP. This, taken together with the similarity of the EP changes on lithium to those occurring in adult patients treated with lithium, supports a physiological parallel between bipolar affective illness in adults and children.