Lithium carbonate in the treatment of schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder: review and hypothesis.

The success of lithium carbonate in the treatment of manic-depressive illness has led to its use in many other psychiatric disorders. Within this group, schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder have come under the closest scrutiny. The literature, however, is difficult to reconcile. Conclusions are often contradictory, methodologies confusing, and well-designed studies few in number. In this paper, the authors have attempted to extract common denominators that may prove of value in delineating those symptoms which predict therapeutic response to lithium carbonate.