Lithium Exposure During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Safety and Efficacy Outcomes

Minimizing neonatal hypothyroidism induced by lithium exposure through breast milk

BACKGROUND

Lithium-induced hypothyroidism in the neonate is a growing concern for lactating mothers. Maternal hypothyroidism in the postpartum period could lead to hypothyroidism in the infant via maternal compromised thyroid hormones (likely T4) in breast milk, and lithium in breast milk could have a direct effect on the neonatal thyroid axis over lithium carbonate direct administration.

METHODS

We have studied the effects of lithium exposure on neonatal pups through two different modes of exposure: direct oral administration of lithium carbonate and indirect exposure of lithium from breast milk from dams. Furthermore, dams were supplemented with two different iodine dosages in both control and lithium-treated groups. We employed Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, inductively coupled plasma mass and atomic absorption spectrometry to assess hormone profiles and intrathyroidal elemental content.

RESULTS

Interestingly, lithium administered directly to pups from control mothers (average dose 900 mg/50 kg per day), did not affect their weight, thyroid hormones, blood urea, and intrathyroidal iodine content despite traces of lithium found in their blood and thyroid. The iodine pathway in the presence of lithium content in both thyroid follicular cells and lactocyte has been hypothesized. The results also demonstrate that lithium administration in lactating dams alters thyroid hormones (T4) and blood urea in both dams and pups, which could be reversed by iodine supplement. The mechanism for supplemented iodine uptake in the presence of lithium is hypothesized.

CONCLUSION

In future, supplementing iodine may be potentially useful in clinical practices to address the neonate concerns of lactating mothers and their infants either caused by prolonged lithium medication or maternal iodine deficiency.

Perinatal psychiatry: balancing maternal-fetal exposures to mental disorders and drug treatments

INTRODUCTION

The potential effects of psychotropic medications during pregnancy must be balanced against those of untreated maternal mental illness, which has been under-appreciated as an exposure that impacts development.

METHODS

This is an expert, non-systematic literature review of the effect of maternal stress and psychotropic medication on fetal development.

RESULTS

Studies on the outcomes of pregnancy and child development following exposures to stress, mental disorders and psychotropic medications during pregnancy are reviewed. Alterations in pharmacokinetics due to the physiology of pregnancy may change the efficacy of drug treatment. The impact of stress and mental health conditions in pregnancy is difficult to separate from other exposures; however, these exposures have adverse effects on fetal and child development independent from medication treatment. A focus on optimal treatment to reduce psychiatric symptoms, which is the justification for use of the drug, is critical. Building healthy fetal brains through adequate maternal essential nutrient intake holds promise to support reduction of the risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Untreated maternal mental illness is an exposure that impacts outcomes, the course of comorbid medical disorders, and offspring development. The current knowledge base dictates that treatment of psychiatric disorders be prioritized in the benefit-harm decision process.

Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders: Guide de pratique 2024 du Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments pour le traitement des troubles de l'humeur, des troubles anxieux et des troubles connexes périnatals

BackgroundThe Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) publishes clinical practice guidelines for mood and anxiety disorders. This CANMAT guideline aims to provide comprehensive clinical guidance for the pregnancy and postpartum (perinatal) management of mood, anxiety and related disorders.MethodsCANMAT convened a core editorial group of interdisciplinary academic clinicians and persons with lived experience (PWLE), and 3 advisory panels of PWLE and perinatal health and perinatal mental health clinicians. We searched for systematic reviews of prevention and treatment interventions for perinatal depressive, bipolar, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders (January 2013-October 2023). We prioritized evidence from reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), except for the perinatal safety of medications where reviews of large high-quality observational studies were prioritized due to the absence of RCT data. Targeted searches for individual studies were conducted when systematic reviews were limited or absent. Recommendations were organized by lines of treatment based on CANMAT-defined levels of evidence quality, supplemented by editorial group consensus to balance efficacy, safety, tolerability and feasibility considerations.ResultsThe guideline covers 10 clinical sections in a question-and-answer format that maps onto the patient care journey: case identification; organization and delivery of care; non-pharmacological (lifestyle, psychosocial, psychological), pharmacological, neuromodulation and complementary and alternative medicine interventions; high-risk clinical situations; and mental health of the father or co-parent. Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations are provided.ConclusionsThis guideline's detailed evidence-based recommendations provide clinicians with key information to promote the delivery of effective and safe perinatal mental healthcare. It is hoped that the guideline will serve as a valuable tool for clinicians in Canada and around the world to help optimize clinical outcomes in the area of perinatal mental health.

Bipolar Disorders in Saudi Arabia: What Do We Know So Far?

Bipolar disorders (BP) are prevalent neuropsychiatric illnesses affecting 1%-5% of the global population and about 3% of the Saudi population. They are associated with significant comorbidities and negative consequences. Despite being common mental health conditions in Saudi Arabia, stigma persists, with weak character, supernatural beliefs, and weak faith considered as causes. In addition, Saudi patients with BP have been reported to seek help from non-psychiatric healthcare professionals and faith healers. More data are required on BP from Saudi Arabia, including the genetic aspects and their treatment approaches. This narrative review paper explores the epidemiology and clinical manifestations, etiology and biological mechanisms, public knowledge and awareness of the illnesses, and treatment of BP in Saudi Arabia.

Safety of psychotropic medications in pregnancy: an umbrella review

Weighing risks and benefits of the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy remains a challenge worldwide. We systematically assessed the strength of associations between psychotropic medication use in pregnant people with mental disorders and various adverse health outcomes in both pregnant people and foetuses. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies investigating the association between exposure to psychotropic medication in pregnancy and any adverse health outcomes were included. Credibility was graded into convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak or not significant. Quality of the meta-analyses and of individual studies were assessed with A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), respectively. We considered 21 meta-analyses encompassing 17,290,755 participants (AMSTAR 2 high = 1, low = 12, or critically low = 8). Evidence was suggestive for: (1) preterm birth in pregnant people with either any mental disorder (equivalent odds ratio 1.62 (95% confidence interval 1.24-2.12) or depression (1.65 [1.34-2.02]) receiving antidepressants during any trimester of pregnancy; (2) small for gestational age for pregnant people with depression receiving a SSRI during any trimester of pregnancy (1.50 [1.19-1.90]); and (3) major congenital malformation (1.24 [1.09-1.40]) or cardiac malformations (1.28 [1.11-1.47]) in babies for pregnant people with depression or anxiety receiving paroxetine during first trimester of pregnancy. Additional associations were supported by weak evidence, or were not statistically significant. This umbrella review found no convincing or highly suggestive level of evidence of adverse health outcomes associated with psychotropic medication use in pregnant people with mental disorders.

Lithium Use During Pregnancy in 14 Countries

Importance

In pregnancy, the benefits of lithium treatment for relapse prevention in psychiatric conditions must be weighed against potential teratogenic effects. Currently, there is a paucity of information on how and when lithium is used by pregnant women.

Objective

To examine lithium use in the perinatal period.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used individual-level data of pregnancies from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021, in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK, and 2 cohorts in the US. Analyses were performed from September 1 to November 30, 2023.

Exposures

The prevalence of lithium use as the proportion of pregnancies with at least 1 prescription fill or prescription within 3 months before pregnancy until childbirth was estimated using a common protocol. Lithium use during pregnancy by trimester and in the 3 months before and after pregnancy was examined.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Comparison of prevalence between the first and last 3-year periods of available data.

Results

Among 21 659 454 pregnancies from all collaborating sites, the prevalence of lithium use ranged from 0.07 per 1000 pregnancies in Hong Kong to 1.56 per 1000 in the US publicly insured population. Lithium use increased per 1000 pregnancies in 10 populations (Australia [0.60 to 0.74], Denmark [0.09 to 0.51], Finland [0.10 to 0.29], Iceland [0.24 to 0.99], Israel [0.25 to 0.37], Norway [0.24 to 0.47], South Korea [0.30 to 0.44], Sweden [0.42 to 1.07], the UK [0.07 to 0.10], and Taiwan [0.15 to 0.19]), remained stable in 4 populations (Germany [0.17 to 0.16], Hong Kong [0.06 to 0.06], and the publicly [1.50 to 1.34] and commercially [0.38 to 0.36] insured US populations), and decreased in 1 population (New Zealand [0.54 to 0.39]). Use of lithium decreased with each trimester of pregnancy, while prevalence of postpartum use was similar to prepregnancy levels. The proportion of lithium use in the second trimester compared with the prepregnancy period ranged from 2% in South Korea to 80% in Denmark.

Conclusions and Relevance

Prevalence of lithium use in pregnant women over the past 2 decades varied markedly between populations. Patterns of use before, during, and after pregnancy suggest that many women discontinued lithium use during pregnancy and reinitiated treatment after childbirth, with large variations between countries. These findings underscore the need for internationally harmonized guidelines, specifically for psychiatric conditions among pregnant women that may benefit from lithium treatment.

Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Congenital Heart Disease: Part 2, Maternal Medication, Reproductive Technologies, and Familial and Fetal Factors

BACKGROUND

The quantitative effects of congenital heart disease (CHD) risk factors are not fully understood. We conducted a meta-analysis of all CHD risk factors. This report explores maternal medication, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and familial and fetal factors.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified using a search strategy encompassing the concepts of CHD and prenatal risk factors with the following inclusion criteria: (1) peer-reviewed articles, (2) quantifying the effects of CHD risk factors, and (3) between 1989 and 2022. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effect model.

RESULTS

There were 131 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Associations were found between CHDs and extracardiac anomalies (OR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.72-6.77), increased nuchal translucency (OR, 6.87; 95% CI, 2.42-19.53), family history of CHD (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 2.25-3.75), maternal antidepressants (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.38), and antihypertensives (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.80-2.38). A positive association was observed between severe CHDs and lithium, but with a very wide CI encompassing the null effect. A positive association was observed between severe CHDs and ARTs (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.30-3.02). The data were insufficient for anomalies of the umbilical cord, anticonvulsants, and retinoid medication.

CONCLUSIONS

There were strong associations among CHDs and increased nuchal translucency, extracardiac anomalies, and family history of CHD. Effect sizes were modest for maternal medication and ART. Data were scarce and sometimes inconclusive for some risk factors commonly cited as being associated with CHD such as lithium, anomalies of the umbilical cord, anticonvulsants, and retinoid medication.

Lithium: current state of the art and future directions

BACKGROUND

Lithium is our oldest continuously prescribed medication in psychopharmacology, with its history as an agent for treating mood disorders extending from the 19th century. Although clinicians prescribe it less frequently than in the past, its utility in treating bipolar disorder is unquestionable. Novel potential indications for its use in psychiatry have created excitement about broader roles for lithium in treating and preventing other disorders.

CONTENT

Lithium is effective both in treating acute mania, as an adjunctive antidepressant, and as a maintenance treatment in bipolar disorder. Lithium has also shown some efficacy in treating and preventing unipolar depression, but less clearly than for bipolar maintenance treatment and acute mania. Common side effects include nausea, polyuria, tremor, weight gain and cognitive dulling. These side effects are typically manageable with reasonable clinical strategies. Lithium affects renal, thyroid and parathyroid function. With clinical monitoring, these effects are easily managed although infrequent cases of severe renal insufficiency may occur with long term use. Although not all studies are positive, a consistent database suggests the efficacy of lithium in decreasing suicide attempts and suicides, likely due to its effect on impulsivity and aggression as well as its prophylaxis against depressive and manic recurrences. Recent data have suggested lithium's potential efficacy for a number of new clinical indications. Lithium's neuroprotective effects suggest potential efficacy in preventing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia as well as in aiding recovery from strokes. Higher (but still trace) lithium levels in drinking water are associated with lower rates of dementia. It is still not clear how much lithium-and what serum lithium levels- are required for either of these effects. Other preliminary research suggests that lithium may also have antiviral effects and may decrease cancer risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Lithium continues to be the mainstay treatment of mood disorders in general and in bipolar disorder specifically. Other potential clinical uses for lithium in psychiatry have re-invigorated excitement for research in other areas such as suicide, preventing cognitive impairment and possibly preventing viral infections and diminishing cancer risk.

Practice Guidelines for Bipolar Disorder by the JSMD (Japanese Society of Mood Disorders)

The Japanese Society of Mood Disorders (JSMD) published treatment guidelines of bipolar disorder in 2011. The present guidelines incorporating new findings were developed to comply to the guidelines of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) by utilizing systematic reviews and meta-analysis and taking patient and family opinions as well as insights from multiple professional fields into account. They support combination therapy using mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics in many aspects. They also have limitations, including the grouping of mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics when meta-analysis was performed despite their distinct properties, due to the scarcity of drug-specific evidence. Despite the limitations, these guidelines provide clinical decision support for psychiatrists in Japan.

Risk of adverse pregnancy, delivery and neonatal outcomes associated with bipolar disorder and prenatal use of mood stabilizers: A population-based cohort study

Previous research examining bipolar-disorder (BD) and pregnancy/neonatal outcomes yielded mixed results, were mostly derived from Western countries and rarely delineated effect between disorder and mood-stabilizers. This population-based study identified women age 15-50 years who delivered first/singleton child in 2003-2018 in Hong Kong, utilizing territory-wide medical-record database of public healthcare services. Propensity-score weighted logistic-regression analyses adjusted for confounders were employed to examine risk of adverse pregnancy, delivery and neonatal outcomes associated with BD and mood-stabilizers (lithium, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics). Exploratory unadjusted-analyses were conducted to assess risk for congenital-malformations. Of 465,069 women, 302 had BD-diagnosis, including 168 redeemed ≥ 1 prescription of mood-stabilizers during pregnancy (treated-BD) and 134 gestationally-unexposed to mood-stabilizers (untreated-BD). BD was significantly-associated with increased risk of gestational-diabetes (adjusted-odds-ratio: 1.75 [95 % CI: 1.15-2.70]) and maternal somatic hospitalization ≤ 90 days post-discharge from index-delivery (2.12 [1.19-3.90]). In treatment status-stratified analyses, treated-BD women exhibited significantly-increased rate of gestational-diabetes (2.09 [1.21-3.70]) relative to controls (non-BD and gestationally-unexposed to mood-stabilizers). No significant association of BD or mood-stabilizers with other adverse outcomes was observed. Overall, our findings indicate that BD and mood-stabilizers are not associated with most adverse pregnancy, delivery and neonatal outcomes. Further research clarifying comparative safety of individual mood-stabilizing agents on pregnancy/neonatal outcomes is required.

Obstetric Outcomes in Women on Lithium: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Lithium taken during pregnancy was linked in the past with increased risk for foetal/newborn malformations, but clinicians believe that it is worse for newborn children not to treat the mothers' underlying psychiatric illness. We set to review the available evidence of adverse foetal outcomes in women who received lithium treatment for some time during their pregnancy. Methods: We searched four databases and a register to seek papers reporting neonatal outcomes of women who took lithium during their pregnancy by using the appropriate terms. We adopted the PRISMA statement and used Delphi rounds among all the authors to assess eligibility and the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool to evaluate the RoB of the included studies. Results: We found 28 eligible studies, 10 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The studies regarded 1402 newborn babies and 2595 women exposed to lithium. Overall, the systematic review found slightly increased adverse pregnancy outcomes for women taking lithium for both the first trimester only and any time during pregnancy, while the meta-analysis found increased odds for cardiac or other malformations, preterm birth, and a large size for gestational age with lithium at any time during pregnancy. Conclusions: Women with BD planning a pregnancy should consider discontinuing lithium when euthymic; lithium use during the first trimester and at any time during pregnancy increases the odds for some adverse pregnancy outcomes. Once the pregnancy has started, there is no reason for discontinuing lithium; close foetal monitoring and regular blood lithium levels may obviate some disadvantages of lithium administration during pregnancy.

French Society for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology and French-speaking Marcé Society guidelines for the management of mood disorders in women before, during, and after pregnancy

PURPOSE

The French Society for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology and the French-speaking Marcé Society have joined forces to establish expert recommendations on the prescription of psychotropic drugs before, during, and after pregnancy in women with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD).

METHODS

To elaborate recommendations, we used the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, which combines scientific evidence and expert clinicians' opinions. A written survey was completed by 48 psychiatrists, who have expertise in the management of mood disorders and/or in perinatal psychiatry. Key recommendations are provided by the scientific committee based on data analysis and interpretation of the results of the survey.

RESULTS

The recommendations address the following three areas that are deemed essential in women with mood disorders, with an emphasis on screening, treatment options, and monitoring: (i) management of mood disorders in women of childbearing age, (ii) management during pregnancy, (iii) management during the post-partum period. As first-line strategies, experts recommend treating mood symptoms during pregnancy and maintaining a pharmacological treatment, even in euthymic or stabilized patients. First-line options include only medications with no teratogenic risk, and during breastfeeding, only medications without evidence of adverse effects in nursing infants.

CONCLUSION

The expert consensus guidelines will help facilitate treatment decisions for clinicians in the daily assessment and management of mood disorders in women of childbearing age, during pregnancy, and in the post-partum period.

Advances in Psychotropic Treatment for Pregnant Women: Efficacy, Adverse Outcomes, and Therapeutic Monitoring

Advancements in psychotropic therapy for pregnant women are pivotal for addressing maternal mental health during the perinatal period. Screening for mood and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy is recommended to enable early intervention. Psychotropic medications, including antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers, are commonly used, but challenges remain regarding their safety and efficacy during pregnancy. Pregnancy induces significant changes in pharmacokinetics, necessitating personalized dosing strategies and careful monitoring. Real-time monitoring technologies, such as smartphone-integrated platforms and home-based monitoring, enhance accessibility and accuracy. Prospective studies and collaboration among healthcare providers are essential for evidence-based guidelines and optimal treatment strategies. Reducing stigma around mental health during pregnancy is crucial to ensure women seek help and discuss treatment options, promoting understanding and acceptance within the community.

Lithium versus anticonvulsants and the risk of physical disorders - Results from a comprehensive long-term nation-wide population-based study emulating a target trial

Bipolar disorder is associated with increased rates of many physical disorders, but the effects of medication are unclear. We systematically investigated the associations between sustained use of first line maintenance agents, lithium versus lamotrigine and valproate, and the risk of physical disorders using a nation-wide population-based target trial emulation covering the entire 5.9 million inhabitants in Denmark. We identified two cohorts. Cohort 1: patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder prior to first purchase (N = 12.607). Cohort 2: all 156.678 adult patients who had their first ever purchase (since 1995) of either lithium, lamotrigine or valproate between 1997 and 2021 regardless of diagnosis. Main analyses investigated the effect of sustained exposure defined as exposure for all consecutive 6-months periods during a 10-year follow-up. Outcomes included a diagnosis of incident stroke, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, myxedema, osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer (including subtypes). In both Cohorts 1 and 2, there were no systematic statistically significant differences in associations between sustained use of lithium versus lamotrigine and valproate, respectively, and any physical disorder, including subtypes of disorders, except myxedema, for which exposure to lithium increased the absolute risk of myxedema with 7-10 % compared with lamotrigine or valproate. In conclusion, these analyses emulating a target trial of "real world" observational register-based data show that lithium does not increase the risk of developing any kind of physical disorders, except myxedema, which may be a result of detection bias.

Prevalence and associated factors of abortion among women with severe mental disorders

BACKGROUND

Abortion behaviors among individuals with mental disorders presented major obstacles to women's health. However, few studies reported the prevalence and associated factors of abortion among women with severe mental disorders in China. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of abortion among female patients in rural communities and identify potential health risks.

METHOD

This was a cross-sectional study of 276 women aged 18 years and older with severe mental disorders in rural areas of Shandong Province, China. The pregnancy history, abortion history and socio-demographic characteristics of women were investigated by questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the associated factors for different abortion behaviors.

RESULT

The study showed that 82.61 % (228/276) of patients had a pregnancy history. Among the patients with a pregnancy history, 43.42 % (99/228) reported having had at least one abortion, and 15.79 % (36/228) had more than one. In the other side, 31.58 % (72/228) of them experienced spontaneous abortion, while 12.72 % (29/228) experienced induced abortion. Age at first gestation (aOR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.70-0.90) and age at last gestation (aOR 1.17, 95 % CI 1.07-1.27) were both associated with abortion. Anxiety was related to spontaneous (aOR 1.08, 95 % CI 1.02-1.15) and repeat abortions (aOR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.01-1.19). In addition, religion (aOR 10.47, 95 % CI 2.81-39.01), number of children≥2 (aOR 0.18, 95 % CI 0.04-0.77), and family functioning (aOR 1.31, 95 % CI 1.06-1.63) were associated with induced abortion.

CONCLUSION

Women with severe mental disorders in rural regions have notably higher rates of abortion compared to the general female population, particularly for spontaneous abortions. Gestational age and anxiety of pregnant patients deserve attention and preventive measures to avoid the outcomes of abortion.

A case of pregnancy with severe polyhydramnios related to long-term use of lithium

OBJECTIVES

Severe polyhydramnios during pregnancy may be associated with long-term lithium use and presents considerable challenges. This complication, which has been linked to induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), underscores the necessity for cautious management of pregnant women with bipolar disorder. This case report aims to elucidate the relationship between long-term lithium use, pregnancy, and the development of severe polyhydramnios, emphasizing the importance of diagnosing NDI in order to prevent obstetric and neonatal complications.

METHODS

We present the case of a 42-year-old primigravida undergoing long-term lithium treatment for bipolar disorder type I, who developed severe polyhydramnios at 34 weeks of gestation. Clinical data including obstetric monitoring and neonatal outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

This case emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and proactive measures to mitigate the risk associated with lithium treatment during pregnancy. Close monitoring and timely interventions are essential to ensure optimal outcomes for both mother and fetus.

CONCLUSIONS

Our article puts forth the hypothesis that there is a link between lithium use during pregnancy and the occurrence of polyhydramnios and Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus (NDI), which may lead to severe obstetric and neonatal complications. This case report contributes to the limited literature on the subject and gives doctors practical advice that may help them make a better risk-benefit analysis. Further research is warranted in order to refine risk assessment protocols and management strategies in this complex clinical scenario.

New Advances in the Pharmacology and Toxicology of Lithium: A Neurobiologically Oriented Overview

Over the last six decades, lithium has been considered the gold standard treatment for the long-term management of bipolar disorder due to its efficacy in preventing both manic and depressive episodes as well as suicidal behaviors. Nevertheless, despite numerous observed effects on various cellular pathways and biologic systems, the precise mechanism through which lithium stabilizes mood remains elusive. Furthermore, there is recent support for the therapeutic potential of lithium in other brain diseases. This review offers a comprehensive examination of contemporary understanding and predominant theories concerning the diverse mechanisms underlying lithium's effects. These findings are based on investigations utilizing cellular and animal models of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Recent studies have provided additional support for the significance of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibition as a crucial mechanism. Furthermore, research has shed more light on the interconnections between GSK3-mediated neuroprotective, antioxidant, and neuroplasticity processes. Moreover, recent advancements in animal and human models have provided valuable insights into how lithium-induced modifications at the homeostatic synaptic plasticity level may play a pivotal role in its clinical effectiveness. We focused on findings from translational studies suggesting that lithium may interface with microRNA expression. Finally, we are exploring the repurposing potential of lithium beyond bipolar disorder. These recent findings on the therapeutic mechanisms of lithium have provided important clues toward developing predictive models of response to lithium treatment and identifying new biologic targets. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Lithium is the drug of choice for the treatment of bipolar disorder, but its mechanism of action in stabilizing mood remains elusive. This review presents the latest evidence on lithium's various mechanisms of action. Recent evidence has strengthened glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibition, changes at the level of homeostatic synaptic plasticity, and regulation of microRNA expression as key mechanisms, providing an intriguing perspective that may help bridge the mechanistic gap between molecular functions and its clinical efficacy as a mood stabilizer.

Dose response relationship between lithium serum levels during pregnancy and birth outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Lithium use during pregnancy reduces the risk of mood episodes in the perinatal period for women with bipolar disorder. Some previous studies found deleterious effects of intrauterine lithium exposure on birth outcomes, yet little is known about a dose response relationship. The current study investigated the influence of maternal lithium serum levels on birth outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective observational cohort study included women with a bipolar spectrum disorder who were referred to a specialized psychiatric and obstetric outpatient clinic from 2003 to 2019 and used lithium during the entire pregnancy. For 101 pregnancies at least one lithium level during pregnancy was available. A weighted average lithium level was calculated for the entire pregnancy, as well as for each trimester. Detailed information on maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes were retrieved from the medical records. Linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between weighted average lithium level and pregnancy duration, birth weight percentiles, preterm birth and large for gestational age births (LGA). In subsequent exploratory analyses, we studied the role of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) as a mediator in the found associations.

RESULTS

The weighted average lithium serum level during pregnancy was negatively associated with pregnancy duration and positively with preterm birth, but not with birth weight percentile or LGA. In exploratory analyses, TSH and T4 did not mediate the association between average lithium serum level and pregnancy duration.

CONCLUSION

The results of this cohort study during pregnancy indicate a dose response relationship between maternal lithium serum levels and pregnancy duration.

Review of the Assessment and Management of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the most common complication of childbirth. When poorly controlled, they are associated with worse obstetric outcomes, such as higher rates of preterm birth and unplanned cesarean delivery. They are also associated with suicide, a leading cause of perinatal maternal death. This article provides an overview of evidence-based recommendations for screening, assessment, and management of PMADs, including suicide risk assessment and management and pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options compatible with pregnancy and lactation. Although specialized reproductive psychiatrists can provide expert guidance for the management of PMADs, their scarcity means that most patients will not have access to this expert care and instead will seek guidance from general psychiatrists. This article provides a clinical guide for generalists that is based on the best current evidence, including recently released treatment guidelines.

Management of Lithium Dosing Around Delivery: An Observational Study

Objectives

Recommendations on lithium dosing around delivery vary, with several guidelines suggesting that lithium should be discontinued prior to delivery. We aimed to evaluate the validity of these recommendations by investigating 1) maternal lithium blood level changes following delivery, and 2) the association between neonatal lithium blood levels at delivery and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

In this retrospective observational cohort study, we included women with at least one lithium blood level measurement during the final week of pregnancy and the first postpartum week. For aim 2, we included a subcohort of women with neonates for whom neonatal lithium blood levels (obtained from the umbilical cord or a neonatal vein puncture within 24 hours of delivery) were available.

Results

There were a total of 233 maternal lithium blood level measurements; 55 (23.6%) in the week before delivery and 178 (76.4%) in the week after. There was no association between time and lithium blood level/dose ratio (Pearson correlation coefficient -0.03, P = .63). Additionally, we included a total of 29 neonates for whom a lithium measurement was performed within 24 hours postpartum. Maternal and neonatal lithium blood levels were strongly correlated. We observed no associations between neonatal lithium blood levels at delivery and neonatal outcomes.

Conclusion

Based on our findings, we do not recommend lowering the dosage or discontinuation of lithium prior to delivery. Stable dosing can prevent subtherapeutic lithium serum levels, which is especially important in the postpartum period when relapse risks are highest.Appeared originally in Bipolar Disord 2021; 23:49-54.

Epidemiology studies on effects of lithium salts in pregnancy are confounded by the inability to control for other potentially teratogenic factors

INTRODUCTION

In bipolar women who took lithium during pregnancy, several epidemiology studies have reported small increases in a rare fetal cardiac defect termed Ebstein's anomaly.

METHODS

Behavioral, environmental, and lifestyle-associated risk factors associated with bipolar disorder and health insurance status were determined from an Internet search. The search was conducted from October 1, 2023, through October 14, 2023. The search terms employed included the following: bipolar, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, pregnancy, congenital heart defects, Ebstein's anomaly, diabetes, hypertension, Medicaid, Medicaid patients, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, narcotics, nutrition, diet, obesity, body mass index, environment, environmental exposures, poverty, socioeconomic status, divorce, unemployment, and income. No quotes, special fields, truncations, etc., were used in the searches. No filters of any kind were used in the searches.

RESULTS

Women who remain on lithium in the United States throughout their pregnancy are likely to be experiencing mania symptoms and/or suicidal ideation refractory to other drugs. Pregnant women administered the highest doses of lithium salts would be expected to have been insufficiently responsive to lower doses. Any small increases in the retrospectively determined risk of fetal cardiac anomalies in bipolar women taking lithium salts cannot be disentangled from potential developmental effects resulting from very high rates of cigarette smoking, poor diet, alcohol abuse, ingestion of illegal drugs like cocaine or opioids, marijuana smoking, obesity, and poverty.

CONCLUSIONS

The small risks in fetal cardiac abnormalities reported in the epidemiology literature do not establish a causal association for lithium salts and Ebstein's anomaly.

Striking the Balance: Bipolar Disorder in the Perinatal Period

The authors reviewed the literature, published between 2018 and 2023, on treating bipolar disorder in the perinatal period in order to summarize current treatment perspectives. Mood episodes occur during pregnancy and there are high rates of both initial onset and recurrence in the postpartum period. Bipolar disorder itself is associated with higher risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational hypertension, hemorrhage, cesarean delivery, and small for gestational age infants. A general principle of perinatal treatment includes maintaining psychiatric stability of the pregnant person while reducing medication exposure risk to the fetus. A variety of factors can compromise psychiatric stability, including rapid discontinuation of stabilizing medications, decreased efficacy due to physiologic changes of pregnancy, and exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness. Psychosocial interventions include optimizing sleep, increasing support, and reducing stress. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends against discontinuing or withholding medications solely due to pregnancy or lactation status. Individualized treatment involves a discussion of the risks of undertreated bipolar disorder weighed against the risks of individual medication choice based on available evidence regarding congenital malformations, adverse neonatal and obstetrical events, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Valproate is not a first-line treatment due to higher risks. Data are lacking on safety for many newer medications. The authors review current safety data regarding lithium, lamotrigine, and antipsychotics, which are the most commonly used treatments for managing bipolar disorder in the perinatal period. Due to physiologic changes during pregnancy, frequent therapeutic drug monitoring and dose adjustments are required.

Facts and myths about the use of lithium for bipolar disorder in routine clinical practice: an expert consensus paper

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder is one of the most burdensome severe mental disorders, characterized by high levels of personal and social disability. Patients often need an integrated pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach. Lithium is one of the most effective treatments available not only in psychiatry, but in the whole medicine, and its clinical efficacy is superior to that of other mood stabilizers. However, a declining trend on lithium prescriptions has been observed worldwide in the last 20 years, supporting the notion that lithium is a 'forgotten drug' and highlighting that the majority of patients with bipolar disorder are missing out the best available pharmacological option. Based on such premises, a narrative review has been carried out on the most common "misconceptions" and "stereotypes" associated with lithium treatment; we also provide a list of "good reasons" for using lithium in ordinary clinical practice to overcome those false myths.

MAIN TEXT

A narrative search of the available literature has been performed entering the following keywords: "bipolar disorder", "lithium", "myth", "mythology", "pharmacological treatment", and "misunderstanding". The most common false myths have been critically revised and the following statements have been proposed: (1) Lithium should represent the first choice for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder; (2) lithium treatment is effective in different patients' groups suffering from bipolar disorder; (3) Drug-drug interaction risk can be easily managed during lithium treatment; (4) The optimal management of lithium treatment includes periodical laboratory tests; (5) Slow-release lithium formulation has advantages compared to immediate release formulation; (6) Lithium treatment has antisuicidal properties; (7) Lithium can be carefully managed during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, a discrepancy between evidence-based recommendations and clinical practice in using lithium treatment for patients with bipolar disorder has been highlighted. It is time to disseminate clear and unbiased information on the clinical efficacy, effectiveness, tolerability and easiness to use of lithium treatment in patients with bipolar disorder. It is necessary to reinvigorate the clinical and academic discussion about the efficacy of lithium, to counteract the decreasing prescription trend of one of the most effective drugs available in the whole medicine.

Risk factors for relapse or recurrence in women with bipolar disorder and recurrent major depressive disorder in the perinatal period: a systematic review

It is well known that the perinatal period supposes a considerable risk of relapse for women with bipolar disorder (BD) and recurrent major depressive disorder (rMDD), with the consequences that this entails. Therefore, the authors sought to provide a critical appraisal of the evidence related to specific risk factors for this population with the aim of improving the prevention of relapses during pregnancy and postpartum. The authors conducted a systematic review assessing 18 original studies that provided data on risk factors for relapse or recurrence of BD and/or rMDD in the perinatal period (pregnancy and postpartum). Recurrences of BD and rMDD are more frequent in the postpartum period than in pregnancy, with the first 4-6 weeks postpartum being especially complicated. In addition, women with BD type I are at higher risk than those with BD type II and rMDD, and the most frequent presentation of perinatal episodes of both disorders is a major depressive episode. Other risk factors consistently repeated were early age of onset of illnesses, severity criteria, primiparity, abrupt discontinuation of treatment, and personal or family history of perinatal affective episodes. This review shows that there are common and different risk factors according to the type of disorder and to perinatal timing (pregnancy or postpartum) that should be known for an adequate prevention of relapses.

Folic acid supplementation improved cognitive deficits associated with lithium administration during pregnancy in rat offspring

INTRODUCTION

The present study aimed to analyse both neurobehavioural and biochemical results of neonates born of mothers exposed to different doses of lithium along with the groups that received lithium at the highest dose with folic acid as a preventive treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male and female rats were mated in separate cages, and pregnant rats were divided into eight first group as (1) vehicle; (2) propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism; (3-4) received two different doses of lithium carbonate (15 and 30 mg/kg); (5-7) the highest doses of lithium (30 mg/kg) plus three different doses of folic acid (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg); and (8) received just folic acid (15 mg/kg). All treatments were dissolved in drinking water and continued until delivery, followed by returning to a regular diet without treatment.

RESULTS

Lithium (30 mg/kg) disrupts both behavioural and biochemical markers, including TSH, T3 and T4 as measuring indicators to assess thyroid function, IL-10 and TNF-α as anti-inflammatory and inflammatory agents, respectively, malondialdehyde as an oxidative stress marker, alongside SOD, and catalase activity as antioxidant indicators. Besides, folic acid, almost at the highest dose (15 mg/kg), attenuated memory impairement and anxiety-like behaviour caused by lithium. Moreover, the groups treated with folic acid alone in comparison with vehicles demonstrated higher levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory indicators.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, prenatal exposure to a high dose of lithium (30 mg/kg) leads to foetal neurodevelopmental disorder and growth restriction through various mechanisms more likely attributed to hypothyroidism, which means it should be either prohibited or prescribed cautiously during pregnancy.

Prophylactic Management of Women With Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy and the Perinatal Period: Clinical Scenario-Based Practical Recommendations From A Group of Perinatal Psychiatry Authors

ABSTRACT

Many women with bipolar disorder experience episodes of illness or relapses over the perinatal period, especially in the immediate postpartum period. Risks associated with treated/untreated psychopathologies and fetal exposure to bipolar medications make the management of bipolar disorder during these periods challenging for clinicians and patients. In light of the available effectiveness and reproductive safety data, the current clinical update based on the opinions of a group of international perinatal psychiatry authors recommends general considerations and specific management strategies for each possible clinical scenario, including mixed features, predominant polarity, diagnosis of subtypes of bipolar disorder, severity of previous episodes, and risk of recurrence of mood episodes.

Countering the declining use of lithium therapy: a call to arms

For over half a century, it has been widely known that lithium is the most efficacious treatment for bipolar disorder. Yet, despite this, its prescription has consistently declined over this same period of time. A number of reasons for this apparent disparity between evidence and clinical practice have been proposed, including a lack of confidence amongst clinicians possibly because of an absence of training and lack of familiarity with the molecule. Simultaneously, competition has grown within the pharmacological armamentarium for bipolar disorder with newer treatments promoting an image of being safer and easier to prescribe primarily because of not necessitating plasma monitoring, which understandably is appealing to patients who then exercise their preferences accordingly. However, these somewhat incipient agents are yet to reach the standard lithium has attained in terms of its efficacy in providing prophylaxis against the seemingly inevitable recrudescence of acute episodes that punctuates the course of bipolar disorder. In addition, none of these mimics have the additional benefits of preventing suicide and perhaps providing neuroprotection. Thus, a change in strategy is urgently required, wherein myths regarding the supposed difficulties in prescribing lithium and the gravity of its side-effects are resolutely dispelled. It is this cause to which we have pledged our allegiance and it is to this end that we have penned this article.

Psychiatric Treatment in Pregnancy: A Narrative Review

Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium are a series of transformations and huge changes in a woman's life, which may also be accompanied by various mental problems. Very often, women experiencing mental disorders during this period and their doctors face a decision on safety of treatment. The purpose of the following review was to assess the safety of treatment during pregnancy. Internet scientific database PubMed was searched. There are groups of psychiatric medications contraindicated during pregnancy such as valproates as well as relatively safe ones such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or antipsychotics. However, in every clinical situation, a decision should be made with caution, based on individual characteristics of patient, severity of disorder and clinical picture.

Neonatal admission after lithium use in pregnant women with bipolar disorders: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Lithium is the preferred treatment for pregnant women with bipolar disorders (BD), as it is most effective in preventing postpartum relapse. Although it has been prescribed during pregnancy for decades, the safety for neonates and obstetric outcomes are a topic of ongoing scientific debate as previous research has yielded contradicting outcomes. Our study aims to compare (re)admission rates and reasons for admissions in neonates born to women with bipolar disorders (BD) with and without lithium exposure.

METHODS

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a Dutch secondary hospital (two locations in Amsterdam). Women with BD who gave birth after a singleton pregnancy between January 2011 and March 2021 and their neonates were included. Outcomes were obtained by medical chart review of mothers and neonates and compared between neonates with and without lithium exposure. The primary outcome was admission to a neonatal ward with monitoring, preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), 5-minute Apgar scores, neonatal asphyxia, and readmission ≤ 28 days.

RESULTS

We included 93 women with BD, who gave birth to 117 live-born neonates: 42 (36%) exposed and 75 (64%) non-exposed to lithium. There were no significant differences in neonatal admission with monitoring (16.7 vs. 20.0%, p = 0.844). Additionally, preterm birth (7.1 vs. 5.3%), SGA (0.0 vs. 8.0%), 5-minute Apgar scores (means 9.50 vs. 9.51), neonatal asphyxia (4.8 vs. 2.7%) and readmission (4.8 vs. 5.3%) were comparable. Overall, 18.8% of BD offspring was admitted. Women with BD had high rates of caesarean section (29.1%), gestational diabetes (12.8%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (8.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

In a sample of neonates all born to women with BD using various other psychotropic drugs, exposure to lithium was not associated with greater risk of neonatal admission to a ward with monitoring compared to non-exposure to lithium, questioning the necessity for special measures after lithium exposure. However, offspring of women with BD was admitted regularly and women with BD have high obstetric risk which require clinical and scientific attention.

Transfer of anticonvulsants and lithium into amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood & breast milk: A systematic review & combined analysis

OBJECTIVE

Data on the ability of anticonvulsants and lithium to enter fetal and newborn circulation has become increasingly available; here we estimated penetration ratios in a series of matrices from combined samples of pregnant/breastfeeding women treated with anticonvulsants or lithium.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed/EMBASE for studies with concentrations of anticonvulsants/lithium from maternal blood, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and/or breast milk. Penetration ratios were calculated by dividing the concentrations in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord plasma or breast milk by the maternal concentrations. When data from multiple studies were available, we calculated combined penetration ratios, weighting studies' mean by study size.

RESULTS

Ninety-one eligible studies for brivaracetam, carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, lithium, oxcarbazepine, perampanel, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pregabalin, primidone, topiramate, valproate, vigabatrin and zonisamide were identified. For amniotic fluid, the highest penetration ratios were estimated for levetiracetam (mean 3.56, range 1.27-5.85, n = 2) and lowest for valproate (mean 0.11, range 0.02-1.02, n = 57). For umbilical cord plasma, oxcarbazepine had the highest ratio (mean 1.59, range 0.11-4.33, n = 12) with clonazepam having the lowest (mean 0.55, range 0.52-0.59, n = 2). For breast milk, the highest ratios were observed for oxcarbazepine (mean 3.75, range 0.5-7.0, n = 2), whereas the lowest were observed for valproate (mean 0.04, range 0.01-0.22, n = 121).

DISCUSSION

We observed substantial variability between anticonvulsants and lithium regarding their ability to enter fetal/newborn circulation. Assessing concentrations of anticonvulsants and lithium in maternal samples can provide a surrogate of fetal/infant exposure, although patterns of concentration-dependent effects for maternal/neonatal safety are lacking.

Association Between Estimated Geocoded Residential Maternal Exposure to Lithium in Drinking Water and Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring in Denmark

Importance

Lithium is a naturally occurring and trace element that has mood-stabilizing effects. Maternal therapeutic use of lithium has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. In animal models, lithium modulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling that is important for neurodevelopment. It is unknown whether exposure to lithium in drinking water affects brain health in early life.

Objective

To evaluate whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring is associated with maternal exposure to lithium in drinking water during pregnancy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This nationwide population-based case-control study in Denmark identified 8842 children diagnosed with ASD born from 2000 through 2013 and 43 864 control participants matched by birth year and sex from the Danish Medical Birth Registry. These data were analyzed from March 2021 through November 2022.

Exposures

Geocoded maternal residential addresses during pregnancy were linked to lithium level (range, 0.6 to 30.7 μg/L) in drinking water estimated using kriging interpolation based on 151 waterworks measurements of lithium across all regions in Denmark.

Main Outcomes and Measures

ASD diagnoses were ascertained using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes recorded in the Danish Psychiatric Central Register. The study team estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for ASD according to estimated geocoded maternal exposure to natural source of lithium in drinking water as a continuous (per IQR) or a categorical (quartile) variable, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and ambient air pollutants levels. The study team also conducted stratified analyses by birth years, child's sex, and urbanicity.

Results

A total of 8842 participants with ASD (male, 7009 [79.3%]) and 43 864 control participants (male, 34 749 [79.2%]) were studied. Every IQR increase in estimated geocoded maternal exposure to natural source of lithium in drinking water was associated with higher odds for ASD in offspring (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.29). Elevated odds among offspring for ASD were estimated starting from the second quartile (7.36 to 12.67 μg/L) of estimated maternal exposure to drinking water with lithium and the OR for the highest quartile (more than 16.78 μg/L) compared with the reference group (less than 7.39 μg/L) was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.35-1.59). The associations were unchanged when adjusting for air pollution exposures and no differences were apparent in stratified analyses.

Conclusions and Relevance

Estimated maternal prenatal exposure to lithium from naturally occurring drinking water sources in Denmark was associated with an increased ASD risk in the offspring. This study suggests that naturally occurring lithium in drinking water may be a novel environmental risk factor for ASD development that requires further scrutiny.

Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 5

PURPOSE

To assess the evidence regarding safety and efficacy of psychiatric medications to treat mental health conditions during pregnancy and lactation. The conditions reviewed include depression, anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, bipolar disorder, and acute psychosis. For information on screening and diagnosis, refer to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Clinical Practice Guideline Number 4, "Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum" (1).

TARGET POPULATION

Pregnant or postpartum individuals with mental health conditions with onset that may have predated the perinatal period or may have occurred for the first time in pregnancy or the first year postpartum or may have been exacerbated in that time.

METHODS

This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of one specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and one maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and two external subject matter experts. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by two authors from the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on treatment and management of perinatal mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and acute postpartum psychosis, with a focus on psychopharmacotherapy. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence.

Lithium use in childhood and adolescence, peripartum, and old age: an umbrella review

BACKGROUND

Lithium is one of the most consistently effective treatment for mood disorders. However, patients may show a high level of heterogeneity in treatment response across the lifespan. In particular, the benefits of lithium use may vary in special clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by conducting an umbrella review on the efficacy and safety of lithium in childhood and adolescence, peripartum and old age.

METHODS

We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses criteria (PRISMA) to identify systematic reviews/meta-analyses on the efficacy and/or safety of lithium in mood disorders in special clinical conditions: (i) childhood and adolescence; (ii) peripartum (pregnancy, postpartum and lactation); (iii) old age. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Overlap in primary studies across systematic reviews was calculated through the Corrected Covered Area (CCA).

RESULTS

We included 20 independent studies, for a total of 8209 individuals treated with lithium. Regarding paediatric age, efficacy and safety results suggested that lithium may be superior to placebo in bipolar disorders (BD) and not associated with serious adverse events. Nevertheless, primary available data are very limited. Efficacy in paediatric major depressive disorder (MDD) is not clear. During peripartum, lithium use was superior to non-lithium in preventing mood episodes and it was associated with low risk of congenital anomalies and with normal child neurodevelopment. Regarding old age, limited evidence supported lithium as an effective treatment in BD and resistant MDD; low doses should be used in this population. Systematic reviews on paediatric age showed the lowest risk of bias (80% of the studies at low risk). The CCA range of included studies was 13-47%.

CONCLUSIONS

This umbrella review supports the use of lithium across the lifespan, including special clinical condition. Nevertheless, more studies with increased methodological homogeneity are needed.

Lithium in breast milk transiently affects the renal electrolytic balance of infants

BACKGROUND

The use of lithium during breast-feeding has not been comprehensively investigated in humans due to concerns about lithium toxicity.

PROCEDURE

We analyzed lithium in the kidneys of nursed pups of lithium medicated mothers, using analytical spectroscopy in a novel rat model. The mothers were healthy rats administered lithium via gavage (1000 mg/day Li2 CO3 per 50 kg body weight).

RESULTS

Lithium was detected in the breast milk, and in the blood of pups (0.08 mM), of lithium-exposed dams at post-natal day 18 (P18), during breast-feeding. No lithium was detected after breast-feeding, at P25 (4 days after cessation of nursing). The lithium pups blood had elevated urea nitrogen at P18 and reduced total T4 at P18 and P25, indicating a longer-term effect on the kidneys and the thyroid gland. Multivariate machine-learning analysis of spectroscopy data collected from the excised kidneys of pups showed elevated potassium in lithium-exposed animals both during- and after breast-feeding. The elevated renal potassium was associated with low nephrin expression in the kidneys measured immunohistochemically during breast-feeding. After lithium exposure is stopped, the filtration of lithium from the kidneys reverses these effects. Our study showed that breastfeeding during lithium use has an effect on the kidneys of the offspring in rats.

Updated perspectives on how and when lithium should be used in the treatment of mood disorders

INTRODUCTION

Lithium is one of the most important drugs for the treatment of mood disorders. The appropriate guidelines can ensure that more patients benefit from its use in a personalized way.

AREAS COVERED

This manuscript provides an update on the application of lithium in mood disorders, including prophylaxis of bipolar and unipolar mood disorder, treatment of acute manic and depressive episodes, augmentation of antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression, and use of lithium in pregnancy and the postpartum period.

EXPERT OPINION

Lithium remains the gold standard for the prevention of recurrences in bipolar mood disorder. For long-term treatment/management of bipolar mood disorder, clinicians should also consider lithium's anti-suicidal effect. Furthermore, after prophylactic treatment, lithium may also be augmented with antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression. There have also been some demonstration of lithium having some efficacy in acute episodes of mania and bipolar depression as well as in the prophylaxis of unipolar depression.

Fire and Darkness: On the Assessment and Management of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurrent mood episodes, affecting 1% to 2% of the population. Although its defining features are manic and hypomanic episodes, its course is dominated by depressive syndromes. Diagnosis can be challenging owing to symptom overlap with other disorders. Management goals include early and complete remission of acute episodes and the prevention of relapse between episodes. We present an overview of bipolar disorder and its subtypes, including algorithms and suggestions for screening, assessment, and treatment.

Treating Bipolar Disorder in Primary Care: Diagnosis, Pharmacology, and Management

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness associated with early mortality, elevated risk of comorbid cardiovascular disease, enormous burden of disability, and large societal costs. Patients often seek treatment for symptoms of bipolar disorder in the primary care setting but are frequently misdiagnosed. This article provides primary care providers with an evidence-based approach to the screening, diagnosis, and pharmacological management of bipolar disorder. Guidance is also provided for helping patients connect with higher levels of specialty psychiatric care when clinically indicated.

Early Postnatal Outcome and Care after in Utero Exposure to Lithium: A Single Center Analysis of a Belgian Tertiary University Hospital

Knowledge of the impact of in utero exposure to lithium during the postnatal period is limited. Besides a possible teratogenic effect during the first trimester, exposure during the second and third trimesters might lead to neonatal effects. Uniform guidelines for postnatal management of these neonates are lacking. The aim was to retrospectively describe all neonates admitted to the University Hospitals Leuven after in utero exposure to lithium (January 2010 to April 2020), and to propose a postnatal care protocol. Descriptive statistics were performed. For continuous parameters with serial measurements, median population values were calculated. In total, 10 mother-neonate pairs were included. The median gestational age was 37 (interquartile range, IQR, 36-39) weeks. Neonatal plasma lithium concentration at birth was 0.65 (IQR 0.56-0.83) mmol/L with a median neonate/mother ratio of 1.02 (IQR 0.87-1.08). Three neonates needed respiratory support, 7/10 started full enteral (formula) feeding on day 1. The median length of neonatal stay was 8.5 (IQR 8-12) days. One neonate developed nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. This study reported in detail the postnatal characteristics and short-term neonatal outcomes. A postnatal care protocol was proposed, to enhance the quality of care for future neonates, and to guide parental counselling. Future prospective protocol evaluation is needed.

Obstetric outcomes regarding the use of lithium in pregnant women with bipolar disorders: a prospective cohort study

Lithium is the mood stabilizer of choice for the prevention of bipolar relapse over the perinatal period. A critical issue is its safety of the mother and the developing fetus. This study aims to compare obstetric outcomes in women with bipolar disorders (BD) regarding treatment with lithium during pregnancy. We enrolled a cohort of pregnant women with BD that received care at the Perinatal Mental Health Unit of a tertiary hospital between January 2005 and March 2017. The exposed group received lithium during pregnancy, whereas the unexposed group did not. The main outcomes were obstetric complications during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, neonatal complications, and congenital malformations. Demographic and clinical data were described using measures of frequency, central tendency, and dispersion. Between-group differences were calculated with chi-square, Fisher's test, t-tests, or Mann-Whitney U test. Our cohort included 100 pregnant women with BD: 53 (53%) used lithium during pregnancy, and 47 (47%) did not. There were no significant differences in obstetric complications, neonatal complications, or congenital anomalies. Nonetheless, newborns of lithium-treated women had lower Apgar scores at 1 min (mean 8.2 ± 1.6 vs. 8.9 ± 0.6, p = 0.026) and 5 min (9.6 ± 0.8 vs. 9.9 ± 0.5, p = 0.015). Our findings do not identify worse obstetric outcomes in women with BD that take lithium during pregnancy, except for an impact on newborn Apgar scores. Lithium might be an adequate treatment for pregnant women with BD, especially for those with a high recurrence risk, and always after an individualized risk-benefit assessment.

Postpartum Relapse in Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Pregnancy and postpartum are vital times of greater vulnerability to suffer a decompensation of bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on public electronic medical databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they reported postpartum relapse in patients diagnosed with BD according to Diagnosis Statistical Manual (DSM) or International Classification Disease (ICD) criteria. Results: Sixteen articles describing 6064 deliveries of 3977 women were included in the quantitative analyses. The overall risk of postpartum relapse was 36.77%. The methodology of the studies, the diagnostic criteria, the discrimination between BD type I and II, and the origin of the sample were very heterogeneous. Conclusions: the rate of postpartum bipolar relapse is very high, as it is considered to be a critical period. It is especially important to detect decompensation in this period and to evaluate mood-stabilizing treatment, given the high risk of relapse concentrated in a short period.

Differences in the prophylactic effect of serum lithium levels on depression and mania in bipolar disorder: A dose-response meta-analysis

The optimal serum lithium levels for preventing the recurrence of mood episodes in bipolar disorder are controversial, especially when polarity is considered. The present study aimed to comprehensively examine the dose-response relationship between lithium concentration and risk of recurrence of mood episodes. We conducted a systematic search of major databases before January 2021 (PROSPERO: CRD42021235812). A one-stage, random-effects, restricted cubic splines model was used to estimate the dose-response relationship between lithium concentration and risk of recurrence of any or specific mood episodes (depression or mania). The effect size is shown as odds ratio (OR). Our meta-analysis included six randomised controlled trials with a total of 975 participants. The dose-response curve showed that increased serum concentrations were associated with a gradual decrease in the risk of any mood episodes (OR 0.50 at 0.60 mmol/l, OR 0.15 at 1.20 mmol/l). The risk of depression decreased slightly with a concentration of 0.60 mmol/l (OR 0.83) but dropped rapidly as the concentration increased to 1.20 mmol/l (OR 0.39). By contrast, the risk for mania initially decreased steadily (OR 0.44), but decreased only marginally (OR 0.30) as the concentration increased. To reduce the recurrence risk to 56%, prevention of depression required a higher concentration than that required for mania (1.13 mmol/l vs. 0.60 mmol/l). Our results suggest a negative dose-response relationship between serum lithium levels and risk of recurrence. In particular, the different preventive effects of serum concentration on depression and mania will be an important clinical reference.

Assessment of evidence on reported non-genetic risk factors of congenital heart defects: the updated umbrella review

BACKGROUND

Congenital heart defect (CHD) is the leading cause of birth defects globally, which results in a great disease burden. It is still imperative to detect the risk factors of CHD. This umbrella review aimed to comprehensively summarize the evidence and grade the evidence of the associations between non-genetic risk factors and CHD.

METHODS

Databases including Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and four Chinese databases were searched from inception to 18 Jan 2022. The reference lists of systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) were screened, which aimed to explore the non-genetic risk factors of CHD. Subsequently, titles and abstracts of identified records and full texts of selected SR/MA were screened by two independent reviewers based on predefined eligibility criteria. A priori developed extraction form was used to abstract relative data following the PRISMA 2020 and MOOSE guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed with the AMSTAR2 instrument. Data were synthesized using fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analyses, respectively. Finally, the evidence on the association of non-genetic risk factors and CHD was graded using Ioannidis's five-class evidence grade.

RESULTS

A total of 56 SRs, encompassing 369 MAs, were identified. The risk factors included relative factors on air pollution, reproductive-related factors, parental age and BMI, parental life habits, working and dwelling environment, maternal drug exposure, and maternal disease. Based on AMSTAR2 criteria, only 16% (9/56) of SRs were classified as "Moderate". One hundred and two traceable positive association MAs involving 949 component individual studies were included in further analysis and grading of evidence. Family genetic history, number of abortions, maternal obesity, especially moderate or severe obesity, decoration materials, harmful chemicals, noise during pregnancy, folic acid supplementation, SSRIs, SNRIs, any antidepressants in the first trimester, maternal DM (including both PGDM and GDM), and gestational hypertension were convincing and highly suggestive factors for CHD. After sensitivity analyses based on cohort studies, some grades of evidence changed.

CONCLUSION

The present umbrella review will provide evidence-based information for women of childbearing age before or during pregnancy to prevent CHD. In addition, sensitivity analysis based on cohort studies showed the changed evidence levels. Therefore, future SR/MA should concern the sensitivity analysis based on prospective birth cohort studies and case-control studies.

Psychotropic drug utilization patterns in pregnant women with bipolar disorder: A 16-year population-based cohort study

Despite growing concern about reproductive safety of psychotropic drugs, there is a paucity of research assessing prenatal prescribing practices for bipolar disorder (BD). This population-based cohort study identified women aged 15-50 years with BD diagnosis, who delivered their first and singleton child between 2003 and 2018 in Hong Kong, with an aim to examine temporal trends and predictors of prenatal psychotropic drug use as well as drug utilization patterns before and during pregnancy were evaluated. Data were retrieved from territory-wide medical-record database of public healthcare services. Of 302 identified women, 202 (66.9%) and 180 (59.6%) redeemed at least 1 prescription for psychotropic drugs in 12 months pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy, respectively. Psychotropic drug treatment (OR = 16.14 [95% CI: 8.79-29.65]) and psychiatric admission (OR = 4.12 [95% CI: 1.66-10.24]) within 12 months pre-pregnancy were associated with prenatal drug use. Second-generation antipsychotic use during pregnancy increased over time, while prenatal use of lithium, anti-epileptics and first-generation-antipsychotics showed declining trend. Use of psychotropic drugs progressively decreased across pre-pregnancy and trimesters of pregnancy. Forty-two (23.3%) women received polypharmacy during pregnancy. Antidepressant use accounted for 17% of all monotherapy episodes. A significant proportion of women exposed to valproate in 12 months pre-pregnancy (27.2%) and first-trimester (16%). In conclusion, our results generally indicate trajectories of reduced psychotropic drug use across pregnancy. Deviations between real-world prescribing patterns and treatment guidelines underscore the need for comprehensive review of current clinical practices. Further research clarifying relationships of prenatal psychotropic drug exposure with maternal and fetal outcomes is warranted.

Lithium carbonate alleviates colon inflammation through modulating gut microbiota and Treg cells in a GPR43-dependent manner

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence suggests that neuropsychiatric stabilizers have a place in resolving gastrointestinal disorders. Lithium carbonate (LC) is one of the most commonly used drugs for bipolar disorder clinically. Here, we estimate the therapeutic function of LC against colitis and investigate the mechanism of intestinal flora and metabolism modulation.

METHODS

A colitis model was constructed by continuously administering 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution daily for 7 days. Analysis of gut microbiota was carried out by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Spectrum antibiotic cocktail (ABX) and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) were employed to evaluate the protective effect of intestinal flora. Colonic Treg cells and related immune responses were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

LC treatment significantly alleviated colon inflammation by regulating gut microbial diversity and altering flora composition. Notably, LC treatment upregulated short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, especially Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), and transformed metabolite SCFA profiles. LC activated anti-inflammatory Treg cell responses in colonic lamina propria (LP) in a G-protein coupled receptor 43 (GPR43)-dependent mechanism. ABX, FMT and single bacteria gavage experiments were conducted to confirm the above mechanism.

CONCLUSIONS

As an intestinal microbiome and metabolite modulator, LC alleviates colon inflammation in a GPR43-dependent manner through activating Treg cell responses. Therefore, the therapeutic strategy of the microbiome-metabolite-immune axis, as observed in the A. muciniphila-SCFA-Treg cell axis in our study, might provide a new direction for the treatment of IBD.

Lithium Plus Olanzapine: One of the Most Effective Combinations for Bipolar Disorder. A Case Report and a Concise Review of the Literature

Background:

The recurrent nature of Bipolar Disorder (BD) is the main cause of disability associated with the illness. Despite the proliferation of drugs approved for the maintenance phase of BD, the relapse rate is still high. The combination of drugs, especially the potentiation of mood-stabilizers with second-generation antipsychotics, may reduce the risk of relapse and rehospitalization. However, studies on the efficacy of specific combinations are scarce.

Case presentation:

The clinical case of a 28-year-old woman involuntarily admitted to an Acute Psychiatric Unit is presented. She suffers a manic postpartum episode with mixed and psychotic features. During the hospitalization, she is successfully treated with a combination of lithium plus olanzapine. In the discussion, a concise narrative review of the scientific literature on the efficacy of such a combination in BD is made.

Conclusion:

The association of lithium plus olanzapine is one of the combinations with most evidence on its efficacy in BD, especially in mixed-featured episodes. Tolerability concerns should not be an obstacle to its use, although they must be considered

Maternal lithium use and the risk of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: a Swedish population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Lithium is prescribed during pregnancy, but there is limited information about pregnancy and neonatal outcomes following in utero exposure. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the associations between lithium use and adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study examined associations between maternal lithium use and major adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes via inverse probability weighted propensity score regression models.

RESULTS

Of 854,017 women included in this study, 434 (0.05%) used lithium during pregnancy. Among pre-specified primary outcomes, lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth (8.7% vs 3.0%; adjusted relative risk [aRR] 2.64 95% CI 1.82, 3.82) and birth of a large for gestational age infant (9.0% vs 3.5%; aRR 2.64 95% CI 1.91, 3.66), but not preeclampsia nor birth of a small for gestational age infant. Among secondary outcomes, lithium use was associated with an increased risk of cardiac malformations (2.1% vs 0.8%; aRR 3.17 95% CI 1.64, 6.13). In an analysis restricted to pregnant women with a diagnosed psychiatric illness (n=9552), associations remained between lithium and spontaneous preterm birth, birth of a large for gestational age infant, and cardiovascular malformations; and a positive association with neonatal hypoglycaemia was also found. These associations were also apparent in a further analysis comparing women who continued lithium treatment during pregnancy to those who discontinued prior to pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Lithium use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth and other adverse neonatal outcomes. These potential risks must be balanced against the important benefit of treatment and should be used to guide shared decision-making.

Novel experimental and early investigational drugs for the treatment of bipolar disorder

INTRODUCTION

The quest toward more effective treatments for bipolar disorder (BD) solicits novel drugs and further research on the underpinning neurobiology. The present review aims to critically appraise the existing evidence about the pharmacological treatment of BD toward the development of novel treatment avenues.

AREAS COVERED

The present review appraises animal and human studies concerning both the currently available psychotropic drugs, and the general medicine drugs which may represent a path toward the development of novel drugs for BD. PubMed and Scopus were last accessed on February 20^th, 2021 for records indexed upon inception relevant to the pharmacological treatment of BD. Immune-modulating agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and glutamate antagonists represent the most intriguing potential targets for the development of new drugs for BD, thus receiving critical appraisal in the present text.

EXPERT OPINION

Regardless of the neurobiological pathways worthy of investigation toward the development of experimental drugs for BD, several unmet needs need to be addressed first. In particular, several biomarkers are altered in BD. However, it is the opinion herein expressed by the authors that it remains uncertain what comes first, that is peripheral changes or the disease.