The impact of the discovery of lithium on psychiatric thought and practice in the USA and Europe.
The discovery of lithium has had a major impact on modern psychiatry. By launching the psychopharmacology revolution, lithium forced psychiatrists to become more adept at diagnosis. Lithium research has also provided a window into secular changes in bipolar illness which adversely impact response, produced pharmacoeconomic data on the social costs of psychiatric illness, and played a role in the birth of patient-run advocacy movements. In addition, the development of lithium has demonstrated the closely intertwined purposes of clinical and basic research, and the continued importance of research in the clinical setting.
Goodwin
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Department of Psychiatry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA. psyfkg@gwumc.edu
Ghaemi
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D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000266:history; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005060:Europe; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate