The potential difference across the rectal mucosa during depressive illness and lithium therapy.

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
M Peet

Abstract

The potential difference across the rectal mucosa (rectal p.d.) is generated by the active transport of sodium across the mucosa, and it is sensitive to the action of aldosterone. The rectal p.d. values of depressive patients on no treatment, tested whilst depressed or after recovery, were found to be similar to those of control subjects, indicating that sodium transport across the rectal mucosa and the activity of aldosterone were normal in these patients. This contrasts with previous reports of abnormalities of sodium transport and of aldosterone levels in manic-depressive patients. Manic-depressive patients taking lithium carbonate as a prophylactic agent were found to have significantly elevated rectal p.d. values when normothymic. Patients who had become depressed whilst taking lithium, and in whom prophylaxis had therefore failed, were found to have normal rectal p.d. values. Lack of elevation of rectal p.d. in response to lithium administration may be a characteristic of patients who fail to respond to lithium prophylaxis.

References

Sep 4, 1971·Lancet·S R Hirsch
May 1, 1968·The Journal of Pediatrics·L C Harris
Nov 1, 1973·Psychological Medicine·G J NaylorS F Whyte
Jun 18, 1974·Psychopharmacologia·G J NaylorJ P Moody
Apr 1, 1974·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·J N ForrestF H Epstein
Feb 1, 1972·Archives of General Psychiatry·J MendelsW L Dyson
Apr 1, 1974·Clinical Science and Molecular Medicine·A D EfstratopoulosG A Wilson
Apr 1, 1972·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·M N AllsoppR P Hullin
Aug 1, 1967·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·F A JennerS M Hanna
Jun 1, 1961·Archives of General Psychiatry·A T BECKJ ERBAUGH
May 1, 1960·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·A J COPPEN

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 1, 1986·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·S C Dilsaver
Jan 1, 1984·Nutrition and Health·G J Naylor
May 1, 1987·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·G J NaylorN I Ward
May 1, 1981·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·R P HullinK J Toumba
May 1, 1979·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·B B JohnstonD A Dick

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by manic and/or depressive episodes and associated with uncommon shifts in mood, activity levels, and energy. Discover the latest research this illness here.