title: Lithium treatment present and future.
abstract: 1. Lithium remains unmatched for long-term effectiveness against the morbidity and mortality associated with bipolar I and II disorders. 2. Lithium is the first choice for bipolar depression. 3. Recent studies suggest that long-term lithium treatment may have mortality-lowering and anti-suicidal effects. 4. Chronic lithium, or valproate, administration has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect on rat and human cultured neurons.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Nursing, Room 5.518, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D008094:Lithium