What do patients in a lithium outpatient clinic know about lithium therapy?
OBJECTIVE
To determine how much patients know about lithium therapy and to examine factors that might influence this knowledge.


METHODS
Lithium outpatient clinic.


METHODS
Patients (n = 123) affiliated with a lithium outpatient clinic (mean treatment duration of 12 years). Diagnoses, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition, revised, included bipolar disorder, recurrent unipolar depression and schizoaffective disorder.


METHODS
Quantitative assessment of lithium-related knowledge, obtained by responses to a questionnaire adapted from the Lithium Knowledge Test, and factors affecting this knowledge.


RESULTS
Age was negatively correlated with lithium therapy knowledge scores, whereas duration of treatment, sex, education and diagnosis appeared to be unrelated to knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient education about lithium treatment should be intensified, especially for older patients taking lithium because adverse drug reactions pose a greater risk to the elderly.
Schaub
R T
RT
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany. schaub@mail.uni-greifswald.de
Berghoefer
A
A
Müller-Oerlinghausen
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate