Lithium Prophylaxis in Recurrent Affective Illness
Abstract
The authors report on two recent two-year studies that attempted to determine the effectiveness of lithium carbonate in treating recurrent affective illness. In study I, 205 bipolar (manic-depressive) patients were randomly assigned to lithium or placebo; in study 2, 44 bipolar and 78 unipolar (depressive) patients were randomly assigned lithium, imipramine, or placebo. The results showed lithium to be effective in treating both manic and depressive episodes and imipramine to be effective in treating depressive episodes. The findings emphasize the importance of considering the patient's previous course of illness in selecting a program of maintenance treatment.
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