The Use of Lithium in Affective Disorders: I. Acute Endogenous Depression

Abstract

A double-blind study involving 29 patients was designed to investigate the efficacy of lithium compared with imipramine in the treatment of acute endogenous depression. After two to three weeks, there was evidence of a moderate to strong antidepressant effect of imipramine, while lithium produced only a weak to mild antidepressant effect. The authors discuss these findings in the light of other reports on the use of lithium in the treatment of acute endogenous depression.