title: Lithium carbonate and affective disorders. V: A double-blind study of prophylaxis of depression in bipolar illness.
abstract: The efficacy of lithium carbonate as a prophylactic drug against depression in bipolar manic depressive patients was assessed through a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of patients who had histories of recurrent depressions and hypomanias ("bipolar II"). The results revealed that treatment with lithium carbonate resulted in a reduction in the frequency of depressive attacks was observed with lithium carbonate treatment during the study (mean length of study, approximately 16 months), although there was a suggestion that the depressive attacks that occurred during treatment with lithium carbonate might be less severe than with placebo treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D008094:Lithium