Memory functions and prophylactic treatment with lithium.
Memory functions were examined in a group of 53 patients with affective disorders before commencing prophylactic lithium therapy and then after 4 and 12 months of lithium treatment. The memory tests administered were the 30 Figure Test, the 30 Word-Pair Test, the 30 Person-Data Test (these tests are included in the Cronholm-Molander test battery) and the 30 Face Test. Three scores were obtained : immediate memory score, delayed memory score and forgetting score. There were no statistical significant differences between these scores before lithium therapy or after 4 and 12 months, except for immediate and delayed memory on the Person-Data Test and the 30 Face Test which showed an increased score of memory functions. The results of this study support the view that long-term lithium treatment with serum levels of about 0.6 mmol/l does not induce memory disturbances.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests
D008094:Lithium