Skip to main content
Log in

Effect of lithium carbonate on memory processes of bipolar affectively ill patients

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of long-term lithium carbonate treatment on parameters of immediate, short-, and long-term memory was examined in a group of bipolar affectively ill patients. The lithium treatment group recalled significantly fewer words across trials on a verbal learning task than a group of bipolar affectively ill patients receiving no medication. The ability to consistently recall material for which prior learning had been demonstrated was also decreased and accounted for most of the variance in total number of words recalled. Possible mechanisms of effect are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bajor, G. F.: Memory loss with lithium. Am. J. Psychiatry 134, 588 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Batting, W. F., Montague, W. E.: Category nouns for verbal stems in 56 categories: a replication and extension of the Connecticut category nouns. J. Exp. Psychol. 80, 1–46 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Benowitz, L., Sperry, R. W.: Amnesic effects of lithium chloride in chicks. Exp. Neurol. 40, 540–546 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjegovic, M., Randic, M.: Effects of lithium ions on the release of acetycholine from the cerebral cortex. Nature 230, 587–588 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, W. E., Jr., Murphy, D. L.: Neurobiological considerations on the mode of action of lithium carbonate in the treatment of affective disorders. Pharmakopsychiatr. Neuro-Psychopharmakol. 9, 142–147 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Buschke, H.: Selective reminding for analysis of memory and learning. J. Verbal Learning Verbal Behav. 12, 543–550 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Christodoulou, G. N., Sierfakas, A., Rinieris, P. M.: Side effects of lithium. Acta Psychiatr. Belg. 77, 260–266 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Craik, F., Lockhart, R. S.: Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. J. Verbal Learning Verbal Behav. 11, 671–684 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Wied, D.: Behavioral effects of intraventricularly administered vasopressin and vasopressin fragments. Life Sci. 19, 685–690 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flemenbaum, A.: Lithium inhibition of norepinephrine and dopamine receptors. Biol. Psychiatry 12, 563–572 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M. J., Culver, C. M., Ferrell, R. B.: On the safety of long-term treatment with lithium. Am. J. Psychiatry 134, 1123–1126 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, M. E., Ng, K. T.: Psychobiology of memory: Towards a model of memory formation. Biobehav. Rev. 1, 113–136 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, G. M., Weingartner, H., Murphy, D. L.: Influence of affective states and psychoactive drugs on verbal learning and memory. Am. J. Psychiatry 130, 966–971 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, F. N.: The effects of lithium chloride on one-trial passive avoidance learning in rats. Br. J. Pharmacol. 56, 87–91 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, F. N., Baker, G. J.: Effects of lithium chloride on learning responses. Dis. Nerv. Syst. 33, 664–666 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Judd, L., Hubbard, B., Janowsky, D.: Effect of lithium carbonate on the cognitive functions of normal subjects. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 34, 355–357 (1977a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Judd, L., Hubbard, B., Janowsky, D., Huey, L. Y., Attewell, P. A.: Lithium carbonate in normal subjects. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 34, 346–354 (1977b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karniol, I. G., Dalton, J., Lader, M. H.: Acute and chronic effects of lithium chloride on physiological and psychological measures in normals. Psychopharmacology 57, 289–294 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusumo, K. S., Vaughan, M.: Effect of lithium salts on memory. Br. J. Psychiatry 131, 453–457 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mark, R. F., Watts, M. E.: Drug inhibition of memory formation in chickens. I. Long-term memory. Proc. R. Soc. London 178, 439–454 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • McGaugh, J. L.: Drug facilitation of learning and memory. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. 13, 229–241 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, D. L., Henry, G. M.: Catecholamines and memory: enhanced verbal learning during L-DOPA administration. Psychopharmacologia 27, 319–326 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Preodor, D., Wolpert, G. Y., Ostrow, D., Holinger, P., Wolpert, E. A.: Memory loss with lithium treatment. Am. J. Psychiatry 134, 1047–1048 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reus, V. I., Silberman, E., Post, R. M., Weingartner, H.: d-Amphetamine: effects on memory in a depressed population. Biol. Psychiatry (in press)

  • Spitzer, R. L., Endicott, J., Robins, E.: Clinical criteria for psychiatric diagnosis and DSM II. Am. J. Psychiatry 132, 1186–1192 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanini, E., Argiolas, A., Gessa, G. L., Fadda, F.: Effect of lithium on dopamine uptake by brain synaptosomes. J. Neurochem. 26, 1–3 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stromgren, L. S.: The influence of depression on memory. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 56, 109–128 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, M. E., Mark, R. F.: Drug inhibition on memory formation in chickens. II. Short-term memory. Proc. R. Soc. Med. 178, 455–464 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reus, V.I., Targum, S.D., Weingartner, H. et al. Effect of lithium carbonate on memory processes of bipolar affectively ill patients. Psychopharmacology 63, 39–42 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426919

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426919

Key words

Navigation