Prophylactic therapy with lithium in elderly patients with unipolar major depression
Prophylactic therapy with lithium in elderly patients with unipolar major depression
Objectives: to compare the relapse rate of elderly depressed patients taking low dose lithium as an additional therapy with antidepressant medication to those receiving antidepressant medication alone.
Methods: fifty elderly subjects recovering from a major depressive illness taking continuation antidepressants were randomised, in a double blind study, to receive additional lithium carbonate or placebo and followed up over a two year period for evidence of relapse.
Results: relapse rate was significantly greater in those subjects taking antidepressant medication alone compared to subjects taking additional lithium therapy. After six months four (17%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas none of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed. After two years eight (33%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas only one (4%) of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed.
Conclusion: this preliminary study suggests that long-term low dose lithium therapy is well tolerated and protects elderly patients from a relapse of depressive illness.
lithium, elderly, depression and cognitive decline
619-622
Wilkinson, David
9a6b3b11-ec00-45b8-a63a-ff0669695d58
Holmes, Clive
ada5abf3-8459-4cf7-be40-3f4e9391cc96
Woolford, Janet
94bc2072-406d-48fb-b8a2-3555d25620d9
Stammers, Susan
96947f3a-d465-438d-bd5b-66130e4c6c3a
North, Janine
f1adf335-3f70-4792-84df-89d31e532bac
2002
Wilkinson, David
9a6b3b11-ec00-45b8-a63a-ff0669695d58
Holmes, Clive
ada5abf3-8459-4cf7-be40-3f4e9391cc96
Woolford, Janet
94bc2072-406d-48fb-b8a2-3555d25620d9
Stammers, Susan
96947f3a-d465-438d-bd5b-66130e4c6c3a
North, Janine
f1adf335-3f70-4792-84df-89d31e532bac
Wilkinson, David, Holmes, Clive, Woolford, Janet, Stammers, Susan and North, Janine
(2002)
Prophylactic therapy with lithium in elderly patients with unipolar major depression.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17 (7), .
(doi:10.1002/gps.671).
Abstract
Objectives: to compare the relapse rate of elderly depressed patients taking low dose lithium as an additional therapy with antidepressant medication to those receiving antidepressant medication alone.
Methods: fifty elderly subjects recovering from a major depressive illness taking continuation antidepressants were randomised, in a double blind study, to receive additional lithium carbonate or placebo and followed up over a two year period for evidence of relapse.
Results: relapse rate was significantly greater in those subjects taking antidepressant medication alone compared to subjects taking additional lithium therapy. After six months four (17%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas none of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed. After two years eight (33%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas only one (4%) of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed.
Conclusion: this preliminary study suggests that long-term low dose lithium therapy is well tolerated and protects elderly patients from a relapse of depressive illness.
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Published date: 2002
Keywords:
lithium, elderly, depression and cognitive decline
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Local EPrints ID: 27743
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/27743
PURE UUID: ea15461d-e173-4fb6-8be3-c3e2aee95504
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Date deposited: 25 Apr 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:07
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Author:
David Wilkinson
Author:
Janet Woolford
Author:
Susan Stammers
Author:
Janine North
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