Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Lithium discontinuation: withdrawal or relapse?

R Balon1, V K Yeragani, R B Pohl

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

Comprehensive Psychiatry
|May 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Treatment of depression with anti-inflammatory medications-the role of pain relief.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2019
Same author

Erratum to Richness and Creativity in Medical Student Education in Psychiatry.

Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·2016
Same author

Buprenorphine for the treatment of depression?

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2016
Same author

Politics of self-citation.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2015
Same author

The moral myopia of academia and "the big chill" of managed care.

Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·2014
Same author

Characteristics of directors of medical student education in psychiatry.

Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·2014

Discontinuing lithium therapy may lead to serious illness relapse, a documented risk. While withdrawal symptoms like anxiety are debated, relapse is a significant concern for patients.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Lithium is a cornerstone mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder.
  • Discontinuation of lithium therapy is common but carries potential risks.
  • Understanding these risks is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing studies on lithium discontinuation.
  • To evaluate the risk of illness relapse after stopping lithium.
  • To assess the occurrence and nature of withdrawal symptoms post-lithium.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of published literature.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on lithium cessation.
  • Examination of reported outcomes including relapse and withdrawal symptoms.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Relapse of the primary psychiatric illness is a well-documented complication of lithium discontinuation.
  • Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and irritability, are reported but remain controversial.
  • The risk of relapse is a serious consideration when managing lithium therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Lithium discontinuation poses a significant risk of illness relapse.
  • The existence and attribution of withdrawal symptoms require further investigation.
  • Careful consideration and patient monitoring are essential during and after lithium cessation.