Lithium-Carbonate Treatment in Depression and Mania

Abstract

THE PURPOSE of this paper is to present the clinical results of an intensive longitudinal double-blind study in 30 manic-depressive and depressed patients; preliminary aspects of this work have been presented elsewhere.^1,2In addition, we have reported on some biochemical changes occurring at various stages in the course of the lithiumcarbonate treatment of these patients²; this aspect of our work is the subject of other recent communications^3,4and will not be reviewed here. The therapeutic use of lithium-carbonate in affective disorders has recently been the focus of considerable interest, particularly in light of clinical evidence that it may have beneficial effects not only in mania but also in some cases of depression.⁵An additional and perhaps unique feature of this drug is its reported long-term mood-stabilizing properties when used prophylactically.⁶If the initial clinical studies can be further substantiated, then the theoretical implications for a