Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T03:48:48.747Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comments on lithium treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Mogens Schou
Mogens Schou*
Affiliation:
The Psychiatric Hospital, 2 Skovagervej, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Lithium treatment, employed in western countries by 1 – 1.5 persons out of every 1,000 in the population, might with advantage be used more for mania and as a supplement to antidepressants in treatment refractory depressions. Prophylactic efficacy is as good in unipolar depressive as in bipolar illness. Start and discontinuation of prophylactic treatment is decided jointly by patient, spouse and psychiatrist. Treatment intensity (dosage, serum level) should be fine-tuned to lowest effective level. Treatment safety is ensured by observation of guidelines and precautions, and again cooperation between the psychiatrist and the carefully instructed patient and family is essential.

Keywords

Lithium treatmentprophylaxisunipolarbipolartreatment intensitytreatment safety
Type
Perspectives
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , September 1991 , pp. 160 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Vestergaard, P, Schou, M. Lithium treatment in Aarhus. 1. Prevalence. Pharmacopsychiatry 1989; 22: 99–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Schou, M. Lithium and treatment-resistant depressions: a review. Lithium 1990; 1: 3–8.Google Scholar
3.Schöpf, J, Baumann, P, Lemarchand, T, Rey, M. Treatment of endogenous depressions resistant to tricyclic antidepressants or related drugs by lithium addition: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Pharmacopsychiatry 1989; 22: 183–187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Schou, M. Lithiumterapi ved mani: praktiske retningslinier. Nord Med 1956; 55: 790–4.Google Scholar
5.Baastrup, PC, Schou, M. Lithium as a prophylactic agent: its effect against recurrent depressions and manic-depressive psychosis. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1967; 16: 162–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Hanna, SM, Jenner, FA, Pearson, IB, Sampson, GA, Thompson, EA. The therapeutic effect of lithium carbonate in a patient with a forty-eight hour periodic psychosis. Br J Psychiatry 1972; 121: 271–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Souza, FGM, Goodwin, GM. Lithium treatment and prophylaxis in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry 1991; 158: 666–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Goodwin, FK, Jamison, KR. Manic-Depressive Illness. Oxford, New York: Oxford Univ Press, 1990.Google Scholar
9.Tupin, JP, Smith, DB, Clanon, TL, Kim, LI, Nugent, A, Groupe, A. The long-term use of lithium in aggressive prisoners. Comprehens Psychiatry 1973; 14: 311–317.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Dorus, W, Ostrow, DG, Anton, R, Cushman, P, Collins, JF, Schaefer, M, et al.Lithium treatment of depressed and nondepressed alcoholics. J Amer Med Ass 1989; 262; 1646–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Gelenberg, AJ, Kane, JM, Keller, MB, Lavori, P, Rosenbaum, JF, Cole, K, et al.Comparison of standard and low serum levels of lithium for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. New Engl J Med 1989; 321: 1489–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Muir, A, Davidson, R, Silverstone, T, Dawnay, A, Forsling, ML. Two regimens of lithium prophylaxis and renal function. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1989; 80: 579–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Schou, M, Hansen, HE, Thomsen, K, Vestergaard, P. Lithium treatment in Aarhus. 2. Risk of renal failure and of intoxication. Pharmacopsychiatry 1989; 22: 101–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Schou, M. Le lithium: guide pratique pour les médecins et les patients. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1984.Google Scholar
15.Schou, M. Title in Japanese. (Lithium treatment of manic-depressive illness: a practical guide). Tokyo: Igakushuppan-Sha, 1984.Google Scholar
16.Schou, M. Il trattamento con litio della malattia maniaco-depressiva. Roma: Athena Editrice, 1986.Google Scholar
17.Schou, M. Lithium v Léčbě maniodepresívního onemocnění. Praha: Avicenum, 1987.Google Scholar
18.Schou, M. Lithium treatment of manic-depressive illness: a practical guide. 4th rev ed. Basel, München, Paris, London, New York, New Delhi, Tokyo, Sydney: Karger, 1989.Google Scholar
19.Schou, M. Litiumbehandling av manodepressiv sjukdom: en vägledning. 2nd rev ed. Södertälje: Astra, 1990.Google Scholar
20.Schou, M. Title in Greek. (Lithium treatment of manic-depressive illness: a practical guide.) Athens: Zymel, 1990.Google Scholar
21.Schou, M. Lithium-Behandlung der manisch-depressiven Krankheit: Informationen für Arzt, Patient und Angehörige. 3rd rev ed. Stuttgart: Thieme, 1991.Google Scholar
22.Schou, M. Lithiumbogen: lithiumbehandling af manic-depressiv sygdom. 3rd rev ed. Copenhagen: Welner & Rygaard, 1991.Google Scholar