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Episodes of mania in bipolar affective disorder patients are associated with a decrease in cerebrospinal fluid calcium. A reduction in extracellular calcium in most neurones leads to a decrease in calcium‐activated potassium conductance mechanisms. Such mechanisms help govern the rate of action potential generation by neurones, and thus the rate of information processing. The dopamine hypothesis of neuroleptic action cannot explain the antimanic actions of lithium, calcium antagonists or carbamazepine. This paper proposes a common mechanism of action for such substances — namely, an action on calcium‐activated potassium conductances. Copyright © 1989 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/hup.470040210

Type

Journal article

Journal

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

Publication Date

01/01/1989

Volume

4

Pages

139 - 144