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Clinical Trial
. 1999 Apr 15;45(8):972-8.
doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00293-5.

Effect of catecholamine depletion on lithium-induced long-term remission of bipolar disorder

A Anand  1 , A Darnell, H L Miller, R M Berman, A Cappiello, D A Oren, S W Woods, D S Charney
Affiliations
Free article
Clinical Trial

Effect of catecholamine depletion on lithium-induced long-term remission of bipolar disorder

A Anand et al. Biol Psychiatry. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the effects of catecholamine depletion with alpha-methylparatyrosine (AMPT) on mood indices in patients with bipolar disorder who were in long-term remission with lithium therapy.

Methods: Eight subjects with DSM-IV bipolar disorder currently in remission for > 3 months on lithium were included in the study. Subjects were given either AMPT or placebo, in a randomized double-blind manner, in two test sessions of 4 days each.

Results: Subjects did not have any significant changes in mood during AMPT or placebo administration; however, 24-48 hours after the last active AMPT dose subjects had a transient relapse of hypomanic symptoms. Relapse of hypomanic symptoms did not correlate with increases in serum levels of homovanillic acid or 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that the mechanism of prevention of manic relapse by long-term lithium therapy may be dependent on stability of the catecholamine system.

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