To determine the effect of lithium carbonate on the productivity and
idiosyncrasy of written associations of euthymic outpatients with affective
disorder, the authors assessed 22 patients at weekly intervals during
lithium treatment, 2 consecutive weeks of placebo, and 2 consecutive weeks
after lithium was resumed. Lithium discontinuation produced a significant
increase in associational productivity and a demonstrable increase in
associative idiosyncrasy, and restoration of lithium dose significantly
reversed both effects. The results suggest that lithium may affect the
underlying neuropsychological functions critical to the ability to generate
associations and indicate the need for further study of lithium's effects
on these and other functions that may relate to neuropsychological and
creative processes.Abstract Teaser