[Lithium and bipolar disorder--a renaissance?].

OBJECTIVE

Overview and discussion regarding the use and relevance of lithium as an therapeutic agent for bipolar disorder in general, with a special focus on pregnancy, suicidality and possible side-effects.

METHOD: Literature was handsearched and by searches of medline with special interest in recent results and comparative studies.

RESULTS

Lithium is still of high importance in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is unmatched regarding decades of clinical experience and scientific evidence. It has a proven efficacy in every spectrum of bipolar illness, with less profound data regarding acute bipolar depression. Especially long term treatment of bipolar patients with lithium shows clear clinical benefits i.e.: importance of a continuous setting, gain of mood stabilizing effect over time, no loss of efficacy, reduced morbidity and mortality.

DISCUSSION: Lithium should be regarded as a first line treatment for bipolar disorder.