Temporal Change in <i>N</i> -Acetyl-Aspartate Concentrations in Adolescents with Bipolar Depression Treated with Lithium

Abstract

In contrast with prior studies of bipolar adults, this study observes that ventral prefrontal NAA concentrations do not significantly increase from baseline following lithium treatment in adolescent bipolar depression. The results should be viewed in the context of the study's limitations, including the lack of a matched healthy control group. Additional longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging studies are warranted to understand better the role of NAA in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and neurochemical mechanisms by which lithium stabilizes mood.