Lithium carbonate and mood disorder in recently detoxified alcoholics: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.
The effects of lithium carbonate were assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a small group of recently detoxified alcoholics. The patients were treated during their 2nd and 3rd week of abstinence. A previous study demonstrated the existence in these patients of a syndrome of mildly elevated psychomotor rate, including irritability, grandiosity, an increased need for social contact, loquaciousness, and sexual preoccupation. The intensity of this syndrome was significantly decreased by treatment with low dose lithium carbonate, with no effect of placebo treatment.
Nagel
K
K
Department of Psychiatry, Denver Veterans Administration Medical Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center 80262.
Adler
L E
LE
Bell
J
J
Nagamoto
H T
HT
Freedman
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D013695:Temperance
D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D000431:Ethanol