Lithium in hospitalized children at 4 and 8 weeks: mood, behavior and cognitive effects

Eleven psychiatrically hospitalized children were treated with lithium carbonate for a minimum of 8 weeks. Based on literature review, their psychopathology, diagnoses and family history suggested they would be positive lithium responders. Weekly ratings in behavioral domains showed children's improvement in areas of self control, aggression and irritability, more obvious at 8 than 4 weeks. However, of seven children studied with double blind crossover, improvement behaviorally and cognitively was maintained on placebo. Only three of 11 children improved enough to be discharged on lithium. Implications of lithium's anti-aggressive and anti-manic effects in children are discussed.