The lithium carbonate therapy of 13 psychotic schizophrenic patients was
evaluated in a placebo-controlled three-week study that was double- blind.
Seven of the 13 patients were less psychotic while receiving lithium; 4 of
these 7 patients relapsed after lithium withdrawal. Patients who improved
during the third week on lithium could be differentiated from nonresponders
on the basis of their improvement during the first week. Clinical factors
such as diagnosis, prognosis, and symptoms failed to predict responders
from nonresponders. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first controlled
study to yield positive results with schizophrenic patients treated with
lithium alone.Abstract Teaser