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Memory functions and prophylactic treatment with lithium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

L. Smigan  and
C. Perris
L. Smigan*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå Sweden
C. Perris
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå Sweden
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Ludovit smigan, Department of Psychiatry, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden.
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Synopsis

Memory functions were examined in a group of 53 patients with affective disorders before commencing prophylactic lithium therapy and then after 4 and 12 months of lithium treatment. The memory tests administered were the 30 Figure Test, the 30 Word-Pair Test, the 30 Person-Data Test (these tests are included in the Cronhoim–Molander test battery) and the 30 Face Test. Three scores were obtained: immediate memory score, delayed memory score and forgetting score. There were no statistical significant differences between these scores before lithium therapy or after 4 and 12 months, except for immediate and delayed memory on the Person-Data Test and the 30 Face Test which showed an increased score of memory functions. The results of this study support the view that long-term lithium treatment with serum levels of about 0·6 mmol/1 does not induce memory disturbances.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , August 1983 , pp. 529 - 536
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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