The Therapeutic Effects of Lithium in Affective Disorders

Abstract

Objective The main objective of this research was to explore the psychopathological aspects of affective disorder and the clinical effects of pharmacological treatment with lithium.

Materials and Methods: The study involved 40 patientsts (26 females, 14 males) with an average age 45,5 years, hospitalized in the Psychiatric Hospital in Skopje and the Department of Psychiatry of Clinical Hospital in Tetovo, with a clinical diagnosis of affective disorder. The diagnosis of affective disorder is set against the classification DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorder). All subjects were under pharmacological treatment with lithium carbonats whose dose depends of the clinical subentitet, the beginning and duration of the disorder. Clinical-laboratory examinations included: history and clinical status, determination of serum lithium concentration. The serum lithium concentrations were measured by Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) with the COBAS/INTEGRA 700 analyzer.

Results: The results of the research show us that patient with acute phase of mania had higher concentration of lithium in serum compared with patients with bipolar affective psychosis. Also the patients who received combination theraoy (lithium/neuroleptic or antidepressant) mean values of lithium in serum range 1,89 mmol/L compared to patients who only used lithium whose mean values are 0,82 mmol/L. Pearson correlation between two groups was significantly significant at the level of 0,01.

Conclusions: With the regular and continued use of lithium in affective disorders and good co-operation with the patient during the therapy could be reduced the relapses of the disease and improved the quality of life of the person.

Key words: affective dosprder, lithium therapy, quality of life