Lithium Effects on the Brain's Functional and Structural Connectome in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Inclusion Criteria

• •ages 18-60 years (inclusive) and able to give voluntary informed consent;
• •Satisfy criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM-V) for BD I or II, current Depressive Episode;
• •17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score \>15 and \<25;
• •Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) \< 8;
• •no psychotropics in the last 2 weeks (if previously on fluoxetine then medication free for 5 weeks) OR on stable psychotropic medications for 12 weeks
• •no lithium treatment for past 6 months;
• •satisfy criteria to undergo an MRI scan based on MRI screening questionnaire;
• •able to be managed as outpatients during the study as ascertained by Clinical Global Severity Scale \< 5 (i.e., moderately ill) and no significant suicidal or homicidal ideation or gross disability.
• •ages 18-60 years and ability to give voluntary informed consent;
• •no history of psychiatric illness or substance abuse or dependence;
• •no significant family history of psychiatric or neurological illness in first degree relative;
• •not currently taking any prescription or centrally acting medications;
• •no use of alcohol in the past 1 week;
• •and no serious medical or neurological illness.