锂已被用于治疗双相性精神障碍性疾病(BD),或称躁狂型抑郁症,但是可使患者出现震颤、认知损害和体重增加等许多副作用。默克公司的研究人员已经确定了一些基因,有助于开发BD的治疗药物且副作用较少。BD是最常见的、严重的破坏性精神障碍之一。由于在年轻患者中复发和自杀率较高 Lithium has been used to treat bipolar disorder (BD), or manic depression, but can cause many side effects such as tremor, cognitive impairment, and weight gain. Researchers at Merck have identified a number of genes that will help develop therapies for BD with fewer side effects. BD is one of the most common and serious devastating mental disorders. Due to the high rate of recurrence and suicide in young patients