Bipolar illness may be characterized by dysregulation and dysfunction of
biologically active ions and ion pumps, respectively. In an effort to
examine whether purported physiologic abnormalities may have functional
counterparts, nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) and H- reflex recovery
were examined in 7 acutely manic, 11 euthymic bipolar, 13 remitted
schizophrenic, and 6 normal control individuals. All electrophysiologic
tests were clinically normal. However, euthymic bipolar patients had
significantly slower NCVs than either manic or normal individuals. Percent
decrement of H-reflex recovery was nonsignificantly increased in manic
versus euthymic bipolar subjects. Data analysis suggests lithium was not
responsible for these changes. These data indicate that different mood
states in bipolar illness are associated with alterations in
electroneurophysiologic function.Abstract Teaser