OBJECTIVES: To compare the relapse rate of elderly depressed patients taking low doselithium as an additional therapy with antidepressant medication to those receiving antidepressant medication alone. METHODS:Fifty elderly subjects recovering from a major depressive illness taking continuation antidepressants were randomised, in a double blind study, to receive additional lithium carbonate or placebo and followed up over a two year period for evidence of relapse. RESULTS:Relapse rate was significantly greater in those subjects taking antidepressant medication alone compared to subjects taking additional lithium therapy. After six months four (17%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas none of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed. After two years eight (33%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas only one (4%) of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that long-term low dose lithium therapy is well tolerated and protects elderly patients from a relapse of depressive illness. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To compare the relapse rate of elderly depressedpatients taking low dose lithium as an additional therapy with antidepressant medication to those receiving antidepressant medication alone. METHODS: Fifty elderly subjects recovering from a major depressive illness taking continuation antidepressants were randomised, in a double blind study, to receive additional lithium carbonate or placebo and followed up over a two year period for evidence of relapse. RESULTS: Relapse rate was significantly greater in those subjects taking antidepressant medication alone compared to subjects taking additional lithium therapy. After six months four (17%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas none of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed. After two years eight (33%) subjects taking antidepressant medication alone had relapsed, whereas only one (4%) of the subjects taking additional lithium had relapsed. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that long-term low dose lithium therapy is well tolerated and protects elderly patients from a relapse of depressive illness. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authors: Soham Rej; Marilyn Segal; Nancy C P Low; Istvan Mucsi; Christina Holcroft; Kenneth Shulman; Karl Looper Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2014-06 Impact factor: 4.356