Abstract
Lithium is widely prescribed, but the timing of key effects remains uncertain. The timing of onset of its relapse prevention effects is clarified by placebo-controlled randomised trials (3 studies, n = 1120). Lithium reduced relapse into any mood episode over the first 2 weeks of treatment (hazard ratio 0.40, 95% CI 0.16-0.97). Fewer manic relapses were evident within the first 4 weeks, however, early effects on depressive relapse were not demonstrated. There is an early onset of lithium relapse prevention effects in bipolar disorder, particularly against manic relapse. Full effects against depressive relapse may develop over a longer period. Declaration of interest M.J.T. reports personal fees from Sunovion, Otsuka, Lundbeck, outside the submitted work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 664-666 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | British Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 213 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2018 |
Keywords
- Bipolar affective disorders
- mood stabilisers
- randomized controlled trial