Biomaterial Database

The management of chronic behavior disorders in mentally retarded adults with lithium carbonate. 1981

R Sovner, and A Hurley

The authors review the medical literature and present two case histories regarding the efficacy of lithium carbonate in the treatment of chronic behavior disorders in mentally retarded adults. They conclude that the available data lend tentative support for the use of lithium to manage behavior disorders in retarded individuals which are characterized by lifelong hyperactivity, aggressiveness, and/or self-mutilation. They recommend that, when lithium is used for this indication, a blood level of approximately 1.0 mEq/1 is necessary, and that all patients be given a drug-free trial once a therapeutic effect has been achieved in order to assess the continued need for treatment. Etiological issues, a possible mechanism of action involving lithium's effect on CNS serotonergic activity, and areas for future research are discussed.

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
D008607	Intellectual Disability	Subnormal intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period. This has multiple potential etiologies, including genetic defects and perinatal insults. Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are commonly used to determine whether an individual has an intellectual disability. IQ scores between 70 and 79 are in the borderline range. Scores below 67 are in the disabled range. (from Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p28)	Disability, Intellectual,Idiocy,Mental Retardation,Retardation, Mental,Deficiency, Mental,Intellectual Development Disorder,Mental Deficiency,Mental Retardation, Psychosocial,Deficiencies, Mental,Development Disorder, Intellectual,Development Disorders, Intellectual,Disabilities, Intellectual,Disorder, Intellectual Development,Disorders, Intellectual Development,Intellectual Development Disorders,Intellectual Disabilities,Mental Deficiencies,Mental Retardations, Psychosocial,Psychosocial Mental Retardation,Psychosocial Mental Retardations,Retardation, Psychosocial Mental,Retardations, Psychosocial Mental
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006948	Hyperkinesis	Excessive movement of muscles of the body as a whole, which may be associated with organic or psychological disorders.	Hyperactivity, Motor,Hyperkinesia,Hyperkinesia, Generalized,Hyperkinetic Movements,Generalized Hyperkinesia,Generalized Hyperkinesias,Hyperkinesias, Generalized,Hyperkinetic Movement,Motor Hyperactivity,Movement, Hyperkinetic,Movements, Hyperkinetic
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000374	Aggression	Behavior which may be manifested by destructive and attacking action which is verbal or physical, by covert attitudes of hostility or by obstructionism.	Aggressions
D001523	Mental Disorders	Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function.	Mental Illness,Psychiatric Diseases,Psychiatric Disorders,Psychiatric Illness,Behavior Disorders,Diagnosis, Psychiatric,Mental Disorders, Severe,Psychiatric Diagnosis,Illness, Mental,Mental Disorder,Mental Disorder, Severe,Mental Illnesses,Psychiatric Disease,Psychiatric Disorder,Psychiatric Illnesses,Severe Mental Disorder,Severe Mental Disorders
D012652	Self Mutilation	The act of injuring one's own body to the extent of cutting off or permanently destroying a limb or other essential part of a body.	Autotomy Human,Self Mutilating Behavior,Autotomy Humans,Behavior, Self Mutilating,Mutilating Behavior, Self,Mutilation, Self,Self Mutilating Behaviors