Lithium prophylaxis and interepisode mood. A prospective longitudinal comparison of euthymic bipolars and non-patient controls.
The mood stabilizing effect of lithium prophylaxis was investigated in a longitudinal design. Eighteen euthymic bipolar outpatients using lithium and 20 non-patient controls completed 13 weekly mood ratings. Groups did not differ in biographical characteristics and pre-test manic and depressive symptomatology. Apart from a higher mean happiness rating in the patient group, no statistically significant differences were found on most mood scores between groups, nor was there a group difference in variability over time. It is concluded that lithium prophylaxis does not have an extreme mood normalizing effect in well-controlled bipolars.
Bouman
T K
TK
Department of Clinical Psychology, Academic Hospital, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
de Vries
J
J
Koopmans
I H
IH
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D008094:Lithium