title: The first lithium clinic in Hong Kong: a Chinese profile.
abstract: A study of 50 Chinese patients referred to the first lithium clinic in Hong Kong revealed a high prevalence of recurrent mania and rarely unipolar depression. A history of delusions and hallucinations, and re-diagnosis from schizophrenia to manic depressive psychosis, were common. Lithium was prescribed after 3.9 episodes of illness, and at a dosage of 1,191 mg despite a moderate serum level of 0.63 mmol/l. Laboratory monitoring was haphazard, and polypharmacy was common. This might pose unnecessary risks to some patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003906:Developing Countries; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016651:Lithium Carbonate