An old
and relatively inexpensive drug, lithium may reduce the risk of suicide risk
among mood disorder patients including depressive disorders or bipolar
disorders. Incidences of suicides are 30 times more in mood disorder patients
than normal individuals. The review study was published in the journal British
Medical Journal.
According
to Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Maimonides Medical Center , USA , the study provided concrete
therapeutic evidences of Lithium against suicides in mood disorder patients. Dr.
Andrew is an independent reviewer of the study, and not connected with the
study in any way.
The
review study was conducted by a team of UK researchers led by Dr. Andrea
Cipriani, Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University . The team analyzed the results of
48 different clinical trials that involved about 6600 patients. The researchers
observed about 60% reduction of suicide risk in lithium-treated patients. However,
no such benefits were reported in the placebo group.
The
researchers reported that lithium can reduce the self-hurting behaviours in mood
disorder patients. The present study can demonstrate the effectiveness of
lithium in lowering the risk of suicide in such patients. However, the study
does not report the exact mechanism of action of lithium against suicide.
Lithium
can cut the relapses of mood disorders. Some studies reported that lithium can
decrease impulsivity and aggression which can reduce the risk of suicidal
ideation, the researchers wrote in the publication.
Administration
of lithium can cause several adverse events. However, the psychiatrists should
weigh the risk Vs benefits, and the treatment should be individualized.
The
present study can remind the potential benefits of lithium against mood
disorders and suicide, said Dr. Robert Dicker, Associate Director, Child/Adolescent
Psychiatry Division, Zucker Hillside Hospital , USA .
However,
lithium is not often used as a choice of drug as it could be. Being a generic
drug, it is not promoted by the pharmaceutical companies and lithium remains to
be under-prescribed. However, the present study will change the treatment
trends in psychiatry, Dr. Andrew noted.