Lithium in the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Recent high-quality studies have confirmed the central role of lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorder and have established lithium as the drug of first choice for long-term prophylaxis in this condition. However, several indications for its use in unipolar major depression are also based on sound evidence. This includes lithium augmentation as a main strategy for depressed patients not responding to an antidepressant, lithium prophylaxis for recurrent unipolar depression as an alternative to prophylaxis with an antidepressant, and lithium's unique anti-suicidal properties. Lithium monotherapy, on the other hand, is not established for acute treatment of depression. Lithium therapy should be a core competency of every psychiatrist, enabling the safe use of lithium, to the benefit of our patients.
Department of Psychiatry, Schlosspark-Clinic, Heubnerweg 2, 14059, Berlin, Germany, bschor@schlosspark-klinik.de.
Tom
T
Bschor
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds