The Bipolar Lithium Imaging Scan Study (BLISS): protocol for a 7T lithium-7 magnetic resonance study in bipolar disorder.

Introduction: Lithium treatment is considered the first-line option in the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder. At the same time, individual responses vary greatly, which complicates achieving rapid stabilization in many subjects with bipolar disorder. The neurobiological mechanism of action of lithium remains largely unknown, hindering the development of clinically applicable predictors of individual treatment responses. The recent introduction of ultra-high-field lithium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has opened up a promising avenue for better linking brain measures with clinical response to lithium treatment. Methods and analysis: This is an observational study involving 80 adults with bipolar disorder who begin lithium as part of their regular treatment. Within 4 weeks of reaching stable therapeutic serum lithium concentrations, brain lithium concentrations will be measured by employing a 3D lithium-7 chemical shift imaging ( Ethics and dissemination: The BLISS study protocol (NL80214.058.22) has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Leiden, The Hague, and Delft in The Netherlands. Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and shared with the key population.Registration Online at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06134349), 20 November 2023.