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Pharmacopsychiatry 2018; 51(05): 206-211
DOI: 10.1055/a-0590-4992
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Genetics of Lithium Response in Bipolar Disorder

Sergi Papiol
1   Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
2   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
,
Thomas G. Schulze
1   Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
,
Martin Alda
3   Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 February 2018
revised 05 March 2018

accepted 05 March 2018

Publication Date:
26 March 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction Lithium remains the best-established long-term treatment for bipolar disorder because of its efficacy in maintaining periods of remission and reducing the risk of suicide. Not all patients successfully respond to lithium treatment, and the individual response, including the occurrence of side effects, is highly variable and not easy to predict. The genetic basis of lithium response is supported by the fact that the response clusters in families. Likewise, recent high-throughput genomic analyses have shed light on its genetic architecture.

Methods This nonsystematic review summarizes the main results obtained in genetic association studies using lithium response as target trait.

Results These studies suggest that several genetic loci might modulate the way a patient responds to lithium maintenance treatment. Further studies to fully characterize the genetic architecture of lithium response are warranted.

Discussion The identification of genetic factors associated with lithium response will be important for (1) better understanding of lithium’s mode of action and (2) development of a predictive model for optimization of long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.

Key words

bipolar disorder treatment - genetics - bipolar disorder
 

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