Males and females differ in brain activation during cognitive tasks.

To examine the effect of gender on regional brain activity, we utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a motor task and three cognitive tasks; a word generation task, a spatial attention task, and a working memory task in healthy male (n = 23) and female (n = 10) volunteers. Functional data were examined for group differences both in the number of pixels activated, and the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) magnitude during each task. Males had a significantly greater mean activation than females in the working memory task with a greater number of pixels being activated in the right superior parietal gyrus and right inferior occipital gyrus, and a greater BOLD magnitude occurring in the left inferior parietal lobe.

Lithium alters brain activation in bipolar disorder in a task- and state-dependent manner: an fMRI study.

Background: It is unknown if medications used to treat bipolar disorder have effects on brain activation, and whether or not any such changes are mood-independent.

Methods: Patients with bipolar disorder who were depressed (n = 5) or euthymic (n = 5) were examined using fMRI before, and 14 days after, being started on lithium (as monotherapy in 6 of these patients). Patients were examined using a word generation task and verbal memory task, both of which have been shown to be sensitive to change in previous fMRI studies.

Qualitative review of SNRIs in anxiety.

Anxiety disorders pose a problem for a significant number of individuals, with a 1-year prevalence rate estimated at 13.1% to 17.1%.

Lithium and valproate protect against dextro-amphetamine induced brain choline concentration changes in bipolar disorder patients.

Background: Lithium may affect brain choline concentrations, and this effect has been proposed to potentially explain its clinical efficacy. Since dextro-amphetamine is a useful human model of mania, we were interested in determining firstly whether dextro-amphetamine would alter brain choline concentrations, and secondly to determine if lithium would protect against any such changes in bipolar patients. In addition, we wanted to determine if valproate would also have any effects upon choline levels.

Defining anxious depression: going beyond comorbidity.

Objective: Since publication of the DSM-IV, there remains a group of patients with depression and anxiety symptoms who are not well classified. We therefore wanted to determine more accurately the type of patients best described by the term "anxious depression." We also wanted to review the literature to assess the most appropriate treatment(s) for these patients.