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Published on: January 28, 2012
Effects of lithium on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis.
Aliza P Wingo1, Thomas S Wingo, Philip D Harvey
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. aliza.wingo@emory.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|August 20, 2009
Summary
Lithium treatment may cause minor cognitive impairments, particularly in immediate verbal learning and memory. Long-term use in bipolar disorder patients also showed some psychomotor performance decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is a significant concern in bipolar disorder, potentially linked to the illness or its treatments.
- Lithium is a widely used mood stabilizer with debated cognitive effects.
- This study systematically reviewed lithium's impact on cognitive performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reported effects of lithium on cognitive performance in patients with bipolar disorder and healthy volunteers.
- To quantify the cognitive impact of lithium using standardized effect sizes.
- To identify specific cognitive domains affected by lithium treatment.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases (1950–2008) was conducted.
- Twelve studies involving 539 subjects met inclusion criteria, comparing lithium-treated individuals with controls.
- Cognitive performance was assessed using standardized measures, and effect sizes (Hedges' g) were calculated.
Main Results:
- Lithium treatment was associated with small, significant impairments in immediate verbal learning and memory (ES = 0.24) and creativity (ES = 0.33).
- Delayed verbal memory, visual memory, attention, executive function, processing speed, and psychomotor performance were not significantly affected overall.
- Long-term lithium use in affective disorder patients showed greater impairment in psychomotor performance (ES = 0.62).
Conclusions:
- Lithium treatment appears to have few and minor negative cognitive effects.
- The primary cognitive impacts observed were in immediate verbal learning/memory and creativity.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate long-term cognitive effects in specific patient populations.
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