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Lithium and bipolar mood disorder: the inositol-depletion hypothesis revisited

Molecular Psychiatry volume 10, pages 117–126 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Inositol, a simple six-carbon sugar, forms the basis of a number of important intracellular signaling molecules. Over the last 35 years, a series of biochemical and cell biological experiments have shown that lithium (Li+) reduces the cellular concentration of myo-inositol and as a consequence attenuates signaling within the cell. Based on these observations, inositol-depletion was proposed as a therapeutic mechanism in the treatment of bipolar mood disorder. Recent results have added significant new dimensions to the original hypothesis. However, despite a number of clinical studies, this hypothesis still remains to be either proven or refuted. In this review of our current knowledge, I will consider where the inositol-depletion hypothesis stands today and how it may be further investigated in the future.

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Acknowledgements

AJH is supported by a Wellcome Senior Biomedical Fellowship.

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  1. MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University College London, London, UK

    A J Harwood

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Harwood, A. Lithium and bipolar mood disorder: the inositol-depletion hypothesis revisited. Mol Psychiatry 10, 117–126 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001618

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001618

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