[Endocrinological aspects of long-term lithium therapy]

Investigations were carried out on two groups of patients suffering from cyclophrenia, atypical psychosis and schizophrenia. Both groups as well as a control group consisted of 30 persons each. The first of the psychiatric groups was treated with lithium carbonate and neuroleptics during a period of time ranging from 6 months to 8 years. The second psychiatric group was treated only with neuroleptics. The following parameters were being specified: The level of cortisol, insulin, somatotropin (GH) and lithium in the blood serum and also the glucose level in blood. Furthermore, the influence of lithium carbonate upon cortisol secretion and GH after insulin stimulation was also examined. The results of our work prove that the long-lasting treatment with lithium, when proper doses are carefully chosen, does not cause any significant changes of all the examined parameters.