Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

The Tail Suspension Test
Published on: January 28, 2012
The effects of lithium on body weight and food intake in normal subjects--a pilot study
Y Chen1, E Goodall, T Silverstone
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Abstract:
The possibility of lithium increasing hunger and food intake was examined in an open, pilot study involving five healthy male volunteers each of whom took lithium for 1 month at a dose to give mean 12 h serum lithium level of 0.5-0.8 mmol/l. Before starting lithium, after the first dose and again after 1 and 4 weeks on lithium, subjects attended the unit at lunch time. They were starting lithium, after the first dose and again after 1 and 4 weeks on lithium, subjects attended the unit at lunch time. They were weighed and ate their lunch time meal from a food dispenser similar to those in canteens. Subjective rating scales were completed before and after eating. No change in weight was seen. Food intake was slightly increased at the end of the month on lithium compared with the start but had fluctuated during the intervening weeks. There was no relationship between food intake and weight change.

