Association study of the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta gene polymorphism with prophylactic lithium response in bipolar patients.

A relationship between response to lithium prophylaxis and T-50C polymorphism of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) gene was investigated in 89 bipolar patients (41 male and 48 female) who have been taking lithium for at least 5 years. The patients were delineated as excellent responders, partial responders and non-responders to lithium. The results obtained suggest that this polymorphism may not be related to the degree of prophylactic lithium response.