Completed suicide and recent lithium treatment.
Of 1397 completed suicides in Finland in one year, all victims (N = 20) that had used lithium in prophylaxis and treatment of a mood disorder during the three final months were carefully examined. Eight victims (40%) fulfilled the criteria of recent adequate lithium prophylaxis. Continuous or intermittent noncompliance with psychopharmacological treatment during the last two years was reported in the majority (85%) of the victims. Only two cases used lithium as a suicide method. The study suggests that problems especially in compliance but also in quality of treatment are likely to limit the usefulness of lithium treatment in suicide prevention.
Isometsä
E
E
Department of Mental Health, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Henriksson
M
M
Lönnqvist
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D008094:Lithium