Lithium and valproate protect against dextro-amphetamine induced brain choline concentration changes in bipolar disorder patients

SummaryBackground: Lithium may affect brain choline concentrations, and this effect has been proposed to potentially explain its clinical efficacy. Since dextroamphetamine is a useful human model of mania, we were interested in determining firstly whether dextro-amphetamine would alter brain choline concentrations, and secondly to determine if lithium would protect against any such changes in bipolar patients. In addition, we wanted to determine if valproate would also have any effects upon choline levels.Methods: Healthy controls (n=18) were compared with euthymic Bipolar Disorder patients (Type I and Type II) who were taking lithium (n=14) or valproate (n=11). We utilized 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in a 3.0T scanner to examine brain choline/phosophocholine+creatine (Cho/Cr) ratios. Changes in this ratio were measured to determine any changes in choline concentrations in the temporal lobe.Results: The results showed that administration of dextro-amphetamine decreased the Cho/Cr ratios. I...