Lithium in bipolar mood disorder

doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7344.989

BMJ 2002;324:989-990 ( 27 April )

Editorials

Lithium in bipolar mood disorder

Evidence suggests that lithium should still be first choice for prophylactic treatment

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Bipolar affective disorder, also called manic depression, is a common condition associated with multiple relapses often leadingto unemployment, marital problems, alcohol abuse, and suicide.The lifetime prevalence is more than 1%, and 10-20% of patientscommit suicide. Cade was the first to report the anti-manic effectof lithium, and by the late 1960s its role in the prophylaxisof bipolar disorder was established.¹ In the next decade itbecame widely used on both sides of the Atlantic as the firstline of treatment for the condition. Recent prescribing patternsindicate that the use of lithium in the United States is decliningrelative to its use in European and other countries such as Australia.The evidence, however, suggests that lithium should be the firstchoice in the prophylactic treatment of most patients with bipolardisorder.

Some American clinicians no longer prescribe lithium because it is too toxic and alternatives are . . . [Full text of this article]

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New trial should clarify lithium use in bipolar disorder: John Geddes, Guy Goodwin, Jennifer Rendell, Jane Hainsworth, Emma Van der Gucht, and Heather Young
BMJ 2002 325: 441. [Extract] [Full Text]

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Geddes, J., Goodwin, G., Rendell, J., Hainsworth, J., Van der Gucht, E., Young, H. (2002). New trial should clarify lithium use in bipolar disorder. BMJ 325: 441-441 [Full text]

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Uncertainty in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder: the need for BALANCE: John R Geddes, et al.
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Improving outcomes: Stewart M Herring
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