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 .
Suicide in 406 Mood-Disorder Patients With and Without Long-Term Medication: A 40 to 44 Years' Follow-Up
ABSTRACT There is no data on the variation in the suicide risk over lifetime and on the suicide-preventive effect of the long-term treatment of mood-disorder patients with antidepressants and neuroleptics .  Our research focused on 186 unipolar ( D ) , 60 bipolar II ( Dm ) , 130 nuclear bipolar I ( MD ) , and 30 preponderantly manic patients ( M/Md ) ; that were followed-up from 1963 to 2003 . By 2003 , 45 ( 11.1 % ) of the 406 patients had committed suicide . Suicide rates were highest among D patients ( St and ardized Mortality Ratio , SMR = 26.4 ) , MD ( SMR = 13.6 ) , Dm ( SMR = 10.6 ) and lowest among M/Md patients ( SMR = 4.7 ) . Prospect ively , the suicide rate decreased over the 44 years ' follow-up ; Lithium , neuroleptics and antidepressants reduced suicides significantly . Long-term treatment also reduced overall mortality , and combined treatments proved more effective than mono-therapy
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 .