Authors: Prien RF, et al.
Title: Prophylactic efficacy of lithium carbonate in manic-depressive illnesss. Report of the Veterans Administration and National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Study group.
Reference: Arch Gen Psychiatry 1973;28:337-41.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of lithium compared with placebo in the relapse of bipolar disorder.
Study design: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Follow up: Up to 2 years.
Patients: 205 (101 Lithium, 104 placebo).
Treatment: Lithium titrated to a medium serum level of 0.7 mEq/L (1,000 mg/day).
Results: Lithium was significantly more effective than placebo at preventing relapses. This was mainly due to a lower incidence of manic relapse in the lithium group.