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February 5, 2026Neuropsychobiology0 citations

Long-term lithium treatment and sensory processing sensitivity in bipolar disorder patients

EFEwa Ferensztajn-RochowiakPoznan University of Medical Sciences MGMałgorzata Gałczyńska-RusinPoznan University of Medical Sciences NGNatalia GrobelnaPoznan University of Medical Sciences

Key Points

The research aims to explore the relationship between pharmacological treatment and sensory processing sensitivity in bipolar disorder patients.
Compared 35 bipolar disorder patients receiving lithium and other mood stabilizers.
Utilized the Highly Sensitive Person Scale to measure sensory processing sensitivity traits.
Analyzed clinical characteristics, treatment duration, and Alda Scale scores.
Lithium-treated patients had significantly lower total HSPS scores compared to those on other stabilizers.
Notable difference in ease of excitation scores was observed between the groups.
No significant differences in aesthetic sensitivity and low sensory threshold were found.

Abstract

Introduction: Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) describes innate temperament, which consists of three characteristics: ease of excitation (EOE), low sensory threshold (LST) and aesthetic sensitivity (AES). There has been no research on SPS in bipolar disorder, nor the effect of treatment on these traits. Relations between temperament, personality and the course of bipolar disorder are complex and modify the effect of treatment. Long-term lithium treatment modifies course of the illness and excellent lithium responders (ELR) are known from their unique clinical characteristic. The aim of the study was to examine the relation between pharmacological treatment and sensory processing sensitivity in bipolar disorder patients. Methods: The study group comprised of 35 patients (F/M=26/9) with bipolar disorder (BD), where 20 patients were diagnosed with BD type I and 15 patients with BD type II. Twenty patients were treated with lithium (16±13 years) and fifteen with other mood stabilizers (14±4 years). The comparison between groups included parameters: BD type, clinical characteristics (family history, suicidal attempts, duration of illness, duration of treatment), type of treatment and gender in relation to sensory sensitivity traits. The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) including 27 items and distinguishing three parameters: EOE, LST and AES was used. To assess quality of lithium treatment the Alda Scale was implemented. Results: Lithium-treated patients obtained significantly lower scores on HSPS total score (4.27 vs 4.98, p=0.009) and EOE (4.05 vs 5.23, p=0.002), compared to patients treated with other mood stabilizers. AES and LST remained on similar level in both groups (however the results are limited by insufficient statistical power). Also, the negative correlation between LST score and Alda Scale score was obtained (r = -0.484; p=0.031). There was no difference according to clinical characteristics between BD I and BD II, as well as between males and females. Conclusions: Longitudinal treatment with lithium could reduce overall sensory processing sensitivity traits, and particularly “ease of excitation”. However, it is possible that low intensity of these traits is a factor in good response to lithium. Also, lithium treatment may not reduce aesthetic sensitivity, parameter related to creativity. “Low sensory threshold” can be considered as negative predictor of lithium treatment outcome

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