Conclusions Lithium continues as the st and ard and most extensively evaluated treatment for bipolar disorder , especially for long-term prophylaxis
Background Lithium has been used clinical ly for 70 years , mainly to treat bipolar disorder .
Competing treatments and exaggerated impressions about complexity and risks of lithium treatment have led to its declining use in some countries , encouraging this up date about its safe clinical use .
Prophylactic lithium: double blind discontinuation in manic-depressive and recurrent-depressive disorders.
Abstract Fifty manic-depressive patients and thirty-four patients with recurrent endogenous depression who had been on open lithium treatment for at least a year took part in double-blind discontinuance studies to compare lithium carbonate and placebo . Within each diagnostic group matched pairs were allocated at r and om to lithium carbonate or placebo .  Relapses occurring first in the lithium partners constituted placebo preferences and those occurring first in the placebo parners lithium preferences . Relapses were recorded when requiring hospital admission or supervision with additional therapy at home . Serum-lithium levels were monitored . The trials terminated in significant preference for lithium both in manic-depressive and in recurrent-depressive disorder ; this happened when nine patients in each group had relapsed on placebo and none on lithium . During the whole trial , which lasted five months , twenty-one placebo patients relapsed and none of the lithium patients . Before the trials , patients had been on lithium for up to 7 years ; even after this long period there was still risk of relapse on withdrawal of the drug
Conclusions Lithium continues as the st and ard and most extensively evaluated treatment for bipolar disorder , especially for long-term prophylaxis
Background Lithium has been used clinical ly for 70 years , mainly to treat bipolar disorder .
Competing treatments and exaggerated impressions about complexity and risks of lithium treatment have led to its declining use in some countries , encouraging this up date about its safe clinical use .