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Controlled Studies of the Acute Antidepressant Effects of Lithium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

E. P. Worrall ,
J. P. Moody ,
M. Peet ,
P. Dick ,
A. Smith ,
C. Chambers ,
M. Adams  and
G. J. Naylor
E. P. Worrall
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow Department of Psychological Medicine, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF
J. P. Moody
Affiliation:
Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, Dundee DD2 5NF
M. Peet
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Department, ICI Pharmaceutical Division, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire Royal Dundee Liff Hospital
P. Dick
Affiliation:
Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, Dundee DD2 5NF
A. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Dundee
C. Chambers
Affiliation:
Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, Dundee DD2 5NF
M. Adams
Affiliation:
Ida Darwin Hospital, Fulbourne, Cambridge, CB1 5EE, University of Glasgow Department of Psychological Medicine
G. J. Naylor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Dundee
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Summary

In two randomized double-blind controlled trials on 63 depressed female in-patients subject to recurrent affective disorder (bipolar and unipolar manic-depressive psychosis) lithium was shown to have major acute antidepressant effects. At the end of three weeks lithium produced more uniform improvement than did imipramine; lithium in combination with tryptophan (in the form of Optimax) was superior to tryptophan alone—the latter drug having no discernible antidepressant activity in this group of patients.

Lithium did not produce an antidepressant effect until the second and third week of both trials.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 135 , Issue 3 , September 1979 , pp. 255 - 262
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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