Does lithium reduce the mortality of recurrent mood disorders?
Numerous follow-up studies have shown that patients with mood disorders who do not receive prophylactic medication are at increased risk of death, particularly from suicide. After 11 years follow-up we compared the mortality of 103 patients attending a lithium clinic with that expected on the basis of age/sex/year-specific rates for England and Wales. Only 10 patients died during the study, although the expected number of deaths was 18.31 (P = 0.052, two-tailed) and no deaths from suicide were observed. After correcting for the prevalence of mood disorder in the general population, the relative risk was 0.60 (95% CI 0.29-1.12) which suggests that lithium reverses the excess mortality associated with recurrent mood disorders, including that from suicide.
Coppen
A
A
Neuropsychiatry Research Laboratory, West Park Hospital, Epsom, U.K.
Standish-Barry
H
H
Bailey
J
J
Houston
G
G
Silcocks
P
P
Hermon
C
C
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D016651:Lithium Carbonate