History

• Consult mental health books.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Danny Hope
  
  According to PsychEducation.org, doctors discovered lithium in 1817. The first treatment using lithium was in 1948 by Doctor John Cade in Australia.
  
  

The Facts

• MedicationImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of Shutr
  
  Lithium, according to WebMD.com, is one of the most studied and used medications for Bipolar Disorder. Lithium reduces the symptoms of the disorder dramatically, but doctors are not sure why it works.
  
  

Functions

• Lithium affects the brain.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Shaheen Lakhan
  
  Doctors think Lithium acts on the CNS, or brain and the spinal cord, as it functions as a mood stabilizer. It also reduces suicide risk, controls behavior extremes and reduces future episodes of manic phases.
  
  

New Theories

• Diagram of the brain.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mike Licht
  
  The scientists at the Cardiff University suggest, "Lithium affects a molecule called PIP3 that is important in controlling brain cell signaling. Lithium suppresses the production of inositol, a simple sugar from which PIP3 is made." In addition, they also state, "Increasing the amount of IMPase causes higher levels of PIP3. This can then be reduced by lithium treatment." Scientists now suggest this is how lithium works to treat Bipolar Disorder.
  
  

Warnings

• Lithium taken in high amounts causes the patient to become very ill. Anyone taking lithium for Bipolar Disorder needs blood tests for Lithium levels in the bloodstream at least every two weeks.