Lithium reduces maternal child abuse behaviour: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To find out in child abusing mothers whether aggressiveness in general, but which is directed towards their children in particular, could be reduced by giving lithium.


METHODS
An open trial of lithium in eight child-abusing mothers. Assessment of aggression using Yudofsky's Overt Aggression Scale.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) in aggressiveness to the children and to inanimate objects.


CONCLUSIONS
Lithium could be an effective adjunct in the social and psychological treatment of parents who abuse their children. An adequately powered controlled study testing lithium against placebo over a longer period of treatment and observation would be useful.
do Prado-Lima
P
P
The Behaviour Neurobiology Research Group, Neuroscience Laboratory, PUC-RS and Hospital Psiquiátrico São Pedro, Porto Alegre, Brazil. paspl@conex.com.br
Knijnik
L
L
Juruena
M
M
Padilla
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018021:Lithium Chloride