Biomaterial Database

The clinical usefulness of lithium as an antidepressant. 1984

L E Doyal, and W A Morton

Much attention has been directed toward the use of lithium in bipolar depressive illness (manic-depressive illness), but fewer studies have evaluated lithium's efficacy in unipolar depressive disorders. This paper critically reviews the literature dealing with the use of lithium for the treatment of acute unipolar depression as well as for prophylaxis against future depressive episodes. Differences in study design, entry criteria, serum lithium level, dose, patient population, and diagnosis are highlighted; these variations help explain some of the controversy surrounding the use of lithium in unipolar depression. The available information indicates that lithium should be seriously considered as an effective alternative for the treatment of unipolar depression when other antidepressant medications are ineffective or contraindicated.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008094	Lithium	An element in the alkali metals family. It has the atomic symbol Li, atomic number 3, and atomic weight [6.938; 6.997]. Salts of lithium are used in treating BIPOLAR DISORDER.	Lithium-7,Lithium 7
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D003866	Depressive Disorder	An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent.	Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D004311	Double-Blind Method	A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment.	Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000928	Antidepressive Agents	Mood-stimulating drugs used primarily in the treatment of affective disorders and related conditions. Several MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS are useful as antidepressants apparently as a long-term consequence of their modulation of catecholamine levels. The tricyclic compounds useful as antidepressive agents (ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS, TRICYCLIC) also appear to act through brain catecholamine systems. A third group (ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS, SECOND-GENERATION) is a diverse group of drugs including some that act specifically on serotonergic systems.	Antidepressant,Antidepressant Drug,Antidepressant Medication,Antidepressants,Antidepressive Agent,Thymoanaleptic,Thymoanaleptics,Thymoleptic,Thymoleptics,Antidepressant Drugs,Agent, Antidepressive,Drug, Antidepressant,Medication, Antidepressant
D001714	Bipolar Disorder	A major affective disorder marked by severe mood swings (manic or major depressive episodes) and a tendency to remission and recurrence.	Affective Psychosis, Bipolar,Bipolar Disorder Type 1,Bipolar Disorder Type 2,Bipolar Mood Disorder,Depression, Bipolar,Manic Depression,Manic Disorder,Manic-Depressive Psychosis,Psychosis, Manic-Depressive,Type 1 Bipolar Disorder,Type 2 Bipolar Disorder,Psychoses, Manic-Depressive,Bipolar Affective Psychosis,Bipolar Depression,Bipolar Disorders,Bipolar Mood Disorders,Depression, Manic,Depressions, Manic,Disorder, Bipolar,Disorder, Bipolar Mood,Disorder, Manic,Manic Depressive Psychosis,Manic Disorders,Mood Disorder, Bipolar,Psychoses, Bipolar Affective,Psychoses, Manic Depressive,Psychosis, Bipolar Affective,Psychosis, Manic Depressive