Predictors of response to lithium in patients with psychoses.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to characterize a subset of patients with DSM-III schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder who respond to lithium.


METHODS
Sixty-six psychotic patients were given a systematic therapeutic trial of lithium alone. Differences in demographic characteristics, symptoms, and family history of psychotic disorders between the responders and nonresponders to lithium were explored.


RESULTS
Responders and nonresponders did not differ significantly in age, duration of illness, length of current episode, distribution of RDC and DSM-III diagnoses, or number of positive symptoms. However, the responders to lithium (N = 10) exhibited a paucity of negative symptoms and an absence of familial schizophrenic spectrum disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results suggest the possibility of pretreatment identification of psychotic patients for whom neuroleptic medication could be avoided by therapeutic intervention with lithium alone.
Schexnayder
L W
LW
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75216, USA.
Hirschowitz
J
J
Sautter
F J
FJ
Garver
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008094:Lithium