We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to examine whole brain and regional GABA, glutamate and glutamine in 13 patients with bipolar disorder compared to a matched group of 11 healthy controls.
There were no significant differences in GABA, glutamate or glutamine between patients and controls.
Further research is needed to better characterize the GABAergic and glutamatergic effects of pharmacotherapy, anxiety comorbidity and clinical state in bipolar disorder.