Posted by undopaminergic on March 30, 2008, at 20:42:05
In reply to Mechanisms on hypomania?, posted by Amigan on March 30, 2008, at 17:43:32
I'm inclined to think that glutamate is a more direct factor than dopamine, and that changes in dopamine function may be a secondary effect. Stimulant-induced energy, activity and mood elevation at best simulate classic hypomania or manic symptoms, but not the dysphoric or mixed mania or hypomania that is a more relevant complaint in practice. Therefore, it's logical to look at other factors than dopamine elevation; these factors remain largely unknown, but there are some clues: one of them is the fact that mood stabilisers, such as lamotrigine, tend to diminish glutamate release (interestingly, dopamine stimulates it).
poster:undopaminergic
thread:820737
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080204/msgs/820785.html