Bipolar Disorder: not only in the Brain - immunological aspects
Year: 2006
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The main objective of this thesis was to obtain more insight in the \\nrole of the immune system in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder by \\ninvestigating various aberrancies in the immune system of patients with \\nbipolar disorder. In Chapter 1 some general concepts, important for \\nthe perception of this thesis, are presented. Background information on \\nbipolar disorder, the immune system, and the hypothalamus pituitary \\nadrenal axis is given. Bipolar disorder is a severe and chronic mood \\ndisorder with a prevalence ranging from .3-3.7% (generally 1.3-1.6%) \\nand a complex etiology. There is increasing evidence that the immune \\nsystem plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders, \\nbut research in this field particularly focussed on major depression. \\nIn this chapter an overview of earlier published research on immune \\nabnormalities in mood disorders, especially bipolar disorder, is given. \\nIt is clear that not all immune findings point in the same direction, mainly \\ndue to diverse methodological approaches. Consequently, much of the \\ninvolved mechanisms need further clarification. Also the role of lithium is \\nmentioned, a potent mood stabilizer with immune modulating capacity.
Author: Esther M. Knijff
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1762329059