[Status of lithium therapy in Austria]

Questionnaires referring to application of lithium, range of indication, combination with other drugs, side effects and patients' data were sent to all Austrian psychiatrists, psychiatric wards and clinics. Questionnaires gathering basic laboratory data on the subject were sent to all diagnostic laboratories. Both forms being constructed in a way to facilitate filling in, gathered data must be reviewed with extreme caution. Results of psychiatric answers (30%) and returns of laboratory data (60%) are presented and discussed with relevant data from other authors.