Another Reason to Use Lithium for Bipolar Disorder

Researchers in Denmark have found that risk for dementia increased in individuals who filled one lithium prescription, but diminished to the level in the general population with continued lithium use (JW Psychiatry Dec 22 2008). The investigators did not examine patients' diagnoses or whether treatment with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or antipsychotics lowered dementia risk. To address these questions, the same authors have now analyzed Danish databases from 1995 through 2005. Subjects were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, mixed episode, or mania at their first psychiatric inpatient or outpatient contact (age, >40) and had no previous diagnosis of schizophrenia or dementia.

Of 4856 patients (mean age, 54.1), 50.4% received at least one…