Lithium

Manic-depressive illness exchanges stability and calm for fleeting euphoria and energy. It may reward those who have it with creative minds, while undermining their ability or opportunity to apply that creativity. Lithium has restored the lives of an untold number of individuals and brought to life their dreams. It is the simplest medicinal agent available, and its ability to alleviate the signs and symptoms of this enigmatic disease makes it quite intriguing. In addition, many pragmatic issues make it essential to investigate. It is nearly as dualistic as the disease it treats, because there is a minuscule difference between the healing and the destructive powers of lithium. Lithium: Actions and Mechanisms begins by exploring the therapeutic and toxic actions of lithium. Discussions incorporate mechanistic pearls to provide a clear and rational understanding of lithium's clinical actions. The author then investigates basic aspects of lithium's action on first messengers, second messengers, and membranes. This section integrates basic data and theoretical models as well as clinical pearls to provide a clear understanding of lithium's cellular effects. The epilogue combines all the divergent information into one coherent measurement of lithium's clinical action. Lithium: Actions and Mechanisms is unique because it critically reviews major mechanistic theories of lithium actions and combines basic mechanisms with clinical application. This approach provides clinicians and scientists with a greater understanding of lithium. Because the first half is clinical and the second half is basic, it is also an excellent instructional tool for students and residents.