Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume 32, Issue 5 , Pages 464-469, June 2007

Lithium, arginine vasopressin and the dex/CRH test in mood disordered patients

The Stanley Research Centre, School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Received 1 December 2006; received in revised form 28 February 2007; accepted 28 February 2007.

Summary 

The impact of lithium on arginine vasopressin (AVP) release has implications for our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders and for the interpretation of neuroendocrine studies. In this secondary analysis of neuroendocrine, data from 23 patients with chronic major depressive disorder, 41 patients with bipolar disorder and 18 healthy controls, we examine the relationship between lithium therapy, AVP levels and the cortisol response to the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (dex/CRH) test. These data demonstrate that patients taking lithium have elevated post-dexamethasone AVP levels compared to both healthy controls and patients not on lithium.

Keywords: Lithium, Argipressin, Bipolar disorder, Major depressive disorder, Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, Dex/CRH test

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PII: S0306-4530(07)00053-4

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.02.010

Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume 32, Issue 5 , Pages 464-469, June 2007

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