Lithium in Psychiatric Indications

Abstract

Lithium has a clinical history for nearly 70 years. It is the first choice in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder (BD), as an augmentation agent in treatment-resistant unipolar depression, and has the unique property of proven anti-suicidal effects. Here we review the current state of evidence for lithium in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, especially in BD and unipolar depression. We also focus on specific treatment situations as rapid cycling, pregnancy, or age-associated circumstances. We will also discuss lithium’s proposed suicidepreventive effects, the risks of rapid discontinuation, and lithium’s adverse effects.