Neuroimaging and Lithium

Abstract

Objectives: Recent neuroimaging techniques like MRI, allow a better understanding of the mechanism of action of lithium. In this article, we summarize the main results about neuroimaging and lithium in bipolar disorder. Methods: We selected relevant literature about brain imaging and lithium action in bipolar disorder. Results and conclusions: Brain imaging studies bring evidence that lithium therapeutic effect is associated with a neurotrophic effect, especially in the grey matter and the hippocampus. They also raise hopes that we may in the future use brain imaging to measure directly brain lithium concentrations with spectroscopy and to help the clinician predict the response to lithium. ©2014 Elsevier Masson SAS.