title: Long-term lithium prophylaxis in recurrent unipolar depression. A controversial indication?
abstract: The authors assessed results obtained with long-term lithium maintenance in a group of 33 recurrent unipolar patients, followed regularly in the outpatient clinic of the Chaim Sheba Medical Center for 1-15 years. They analyzed changes of frequency, severity and duration of depressive relapses, rate and duration of hospitalization, suicidal ideas or attempts, and various assessments of outcome. A significant reduction was found on all indices during lithium management as compared to before lithium treatment, attesting to the efficacy of long-term prophylactic lithium in recurrent unipolar depression. These results are discussed and compared with those from other reports.
mesh_terms: D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium