The Lithium Index: an innovative approach to consultation by computer

The Lithium Index, a computer consultation program, was developed at the Lithium Information Center to quickly provide up-to-date information about lithium and its side effects. Information is contained in brief summaries that are compiled from the literature, organized by clinical topic, and written and retrieved by means of an interactive computer program. Computer-stored texts are easily updated to incorporate new information. The authors present an example that deals with the use of lithium during pregnancy, the most frequently requested topic.