Citation

Lepkifker E, Horesh N, Floru S. Acta Psychiatr. Belg. 1985; 85(3): 434-443.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Acta Psychiatrica Belgica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Assessed results obtained with long-term lithium maintenance in a group of 33 recurrent unipolar depression patients who were followed regularly for 1-15 yrs. Ss' diagnoses were confirmed in accordance with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia--Life-time Version and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). For a comparison of 'before' vs 'during' lithium treatment, both the whole course of the disorder before treatment and its course during the 5-yr period immediately prior to lithium were considered. Also analyzed were changes of frequency, severity, and duration of depressive relapses; rate and duration of hospitalization; suicidal ideas or attempts; and various assessments of outcome. A significant reduction in symptoms was found on all indices during lithium management as compared to before lithium treatment, attesting to the efficacy of long-term prophylactic lithium treatment in recurrent unipolar depression. (French, Dutch, Italian & Spanish abstracts) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

1–15 yr followup; 38–81 yr old patients with recurrent unipolar depression; conference presentation; Depression (Emotion); Depressive Disorder; Drug Therapy; Follow-Up Studies; Followup Studies; Humans; Lithium; long term prophylactic lithium treatment; Prevention; Prophylactic Drug Therapy; Suicide, Attempted; symptoms