RESPONSE TO LITHIUM-CARBONATE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (5) , 601-606
Abstract
The clinical and research records of 29 actuely ill hospitalized patients with affective disorder who received only L Li2 CO3 during their 1st wk of treatment were examined. Nineteen patients (Group I) continued on L ion alone, while 10 patients (Group 2) needed additional somatic treatment. Compared with Group 1, Group 2 patients were significantly younger at illness onset, more severely ill on admission, clinically more "colorful" in dress and behavior, stayed more than twice as long in the hospital and had more than twice the morbidity risk for affective disorder in 1st-degree relatives. At discharge, both groups were equally improved, and 70% of Group 2 patients were receiving L alone. Reports that nonresponders to L alone (Group 2) were more overactive or paranoid-destructive or less euphoric-grandiose than responders to L alone (Group I) were not confirmed. Group 2 patients had a more severe or penetrant form of illness than our Group 1 patients, requiring neuroleptic drugs or electro-convulsive therapy [ECT] in addition to L therapy. Therapeutic optimism and tenactiy even in those patients who initially fail L alone and require polytreatment was suggested.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: