Trends in lithium treatment and research during the last decade.

The first systematic study on lithium prophylaxis in 1967 was supplemented some years later by (I) a study involving multiple regression analysis with cycle length and interval length as dependent variables and lithium treatment as one of the predictor variables, and (II) a double-blind study of discontinuation design in which patients were allocated randomly to lithium or placebo. Both studies confirmed the conclusions of the original trial. Interest in lithium remains vivid as reflected in many publications each year and widespread clinical usage. Overuse and misuse presumably occur to some extent. In recent years lithium research has included examination of possible predictors of response to lithium and studies on the effect of long-term lithium treatment of the kidneys. Guidelines for safe and effective lithium treatment are discussed.