Sleep And Circadian Rhythm Disruption Is Corrected By Lithium In A Case Of Bipolar Disorder With Familial Brca1 Mutation

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by severe mood symptoms, often accompanied by circadian rhythm disturbances. Preclinical studies indicate that lithium, a first line treatment for BD, has effects on circadian rhythms. However, less attention has been given to the effects of lithium on the clinical symptoms of BD related to circadian rhythm disruption. We present a case of a BD patient with profound disruption in sleep/wake activity and show that lithium potently corrected her circadian rhythm disturbances.