There were no other statistically significant differences between lithium and antidepressants according to all other outcomes considered .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There was adequate efficacy evidence for lithium or antidepressants preventing relapse in unipolar affective disorder , however their relative efficacy was unknown .
BACKGROUND The main rationale for the use of lithium in the long-term treatment of unipolar affective disorder is its efficacy in treating bipolar affective disorder and resistant depression .
However , there is considerable uncertainty about which pharmacological intervention is most effective in the long-term treatment of recurrent unipolar affective disorder .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of lithium versus antidepressants for the long-term treatment of recurrent affective disorder .
Prophylactic therapy with lithium in elderly patients with unipolar major depression.
OBJECTIVES To compare the relapse rate of elderly depressed patients taking low dose lithium as an additional therapy with antidepressant medication  to those receiving antidepressant medication alone . METHODS Fifty elderly subjects recovering from a major depressive illness taking continuation antidepressants  were r and omised , in a double blind study , to receive additional lithium carbonate or placebo and followed up over a two year period for evidence of relapse . RESULTS Relapse rate was significantly greater in those subjects taking antidepressant medication alone compared to subjects taking additional lithium therapy . After six months four ( 17 % ) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed , whereas none of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed . After two years eight ( 33 % ) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed , whereas only one ( 4 % ) of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed . CONCLUSION This preliminary study suggests that long-term low dose lithium therapy is well tolerated and protects elderly patients from a relapse of depressive illness
There were no other statistically significant differences between lithium and antidepressants according to all other outcomes considered .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There was adequate efficacy evidence for lithium or antidepressants preventing relapse in unipolar affective disorder , however their relative efficacy was unknown .
BACKGROUND The main rationale for the use of lithium in the long-term treatment of unipolar affective disorder is its efficacy in treating bipolar affective disorder and resistant depression .
However , there is considerable uncertainty about which pharmacological intervention is most effective in the long-term treatment of recurrent unipolar affective disorder .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of lithium versus antidepressants for the long-term treatment of recurrent affective disorder .