Predictors of lithium prophylaxis effectiveness

1. 1. The charts of 46 bipolar manic-depressive and schizo-affective patients who were on lithium carbonate for more than 2 years were carefully reviewed. 2. 2. Age of onset, age of lithium initiation, sex, family history of affective disorder and diagnosis were not related to lithium response. 3. 3. Poor lithium response was associated with a higher frequency of episodes. 4. 4. Fair lithium response was associated with a mean lithium level below 0.7 mEq/L.