How Does Lithium Affect Cognition in Bipolar Patients?

Bipolar illness is associated with neurocognitive deficits, even in the remitted state. Bipolar patients commonly complain of lithium-induced cognitive slowing, which may lead to nonadherence, even though limited and poorly controlled studies have shown that lithium has, at most, mild cognitive effects.

Now, investigators have conducted a large multisite cohort study to examine the neurocognitive effects of lithium (using California Verbal Learning, Trail Making, Digit Symbol tests) in 262 bipolar patients, of whom 169 were taking lithium. Patients had, on average, mild depression and no mania. The analysis was controlled for mood state, severity of illness, and additional medications.

No cognitive differences were observed at baseline betwee…