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A Long-term Retrospective Follow-up Study of Patients Treated with Prophylactic Lithium Carbonate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

C. Page ,
S. Benaim  and
F. Lappin
C. Page*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital. Present appointment: Consultant Psychiatrist, Julia Farr Centre, Fullarton, South Australia 5063, Australia
S. Benaim
Affiliation:
Royal Free Hospital, London
F. Lappin
Affiliation:
Lister Hospital, Stevenage, and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, Royal Free Hospital, London
*
∗58 High Street, Burnside, South Australia 5066, Australia
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Abstract

Patients suffering from unipolar and bipolar affective illness, who began treatment with prophylactic lithium carbonate during a 5-year period, were followed up and 59 out of 101 interviewed. Most had been taking lithium for at least 13 years: 49% had a complete remission, 41% a partial but significant response, and 10% no response. No specific individual or illness factor was found to correlate with favourable outcome, and no correlation between average serum lithium level and outcome. No side-effects could be associated specifically with the long-term use of lithium, but there was a surprisingly high incidence of clinical hypothyroidism.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 150 , Issue 2 , February 1987 , pp. 175 - 179
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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