Sex differences in response to lithium treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Although sex differences occur with some psychotropic drug treatments, they are not well defined for mood-stabilizing agents, including lithium. The authors' goal was to investigate whether there are differences between the sexes in response to lithium.


METHODS
Studies identified in a literature search were analyzed for reports of sex differences in clinical response to lithium in major affective syndromes.


RESULTS
Data from 17 studies published in 1967-1998, involving 1,548 adults treated with lithium for a mean of 38.6 months (SD=30.5), yielded similar weighted response rates to lithium in 1,043 women (65.6% [N=684]) and 505 men (61.0% [N=308]).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate little difference between the sexes in clinical response to lithium treatment of bipolar and related affective disorders.
Viguera
A C
AC
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. aviguera@partners.org
Tondo
L
L
Baldessarini
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008094:Lithium