An audit in general adult psychiatry service

The aim of this study is to evaluate the standards of lithium monitoring using the local prescribing guidelines in patients attending the lithium clinic of Galway University Hospitals (GUH). The laboratory records of 116 out of 142 patients who met the inclusion criteria were examined to identify the frequency of testing for serum lithium level, thyroid function tests and renal function tests. Only about one third of the patients met all the recommended standards in these three areas revealing poor standard of lithium monitoring. Lithium monitoring standards could be improved through the involvement of multidisciplinary team and a more detailed patient education system.