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Lithium and Suicide Prevention

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Image The Science and Practice of Lithium Therapy

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Abstract

Over the past 40 years, a growing evidence base has established an association between lithium treatment and reduced rates of suicide in patients with mood disorders. This chapter examines the evidence surrounding this link, from early observational reports to randomized controlled trials. Methodological challenges in conducting this research are discussed. We also illustrate how the use of meta-analysis can overcome some of these limitations and demonstrate a convincing link between lithium treatment and reduced suicide rates. Finally, possible mechanisms of action by which lithium may offer suicide protective effects are explored, indicating the interesting possibility of an independent suicide-preventative action.

It appears that the introduction of lithium treatment in the 1970s was the most recent important breakthrough in the prevention of suicide in bipolar disorder.

(Latalova et al., 2014, p. 113)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry Department, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Helen Jones & John Geddes

  2. Psychiatry Department, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Warneford Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK

    Andrea Cipriani

Authors
  1. Helen Jones
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  2. John Geddes
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  3. Andrea Cipriani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Cipriani.

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Department of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Gin S. Malhi

  2. Nightingale Hospitals Paris-Clinique du Château de Garches, Consultant Service Hospitalo-Universitaire Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France

    Marc Masson

  3. Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM UMR-S1144 Paris-Diderot University, Paris, France

    Frank Bellivier

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Jones, H., Geddes, J., Cipriani, A. (2017). Lithium and Suicide Prevention. In: Malhi, G., Masson, M., Bellivier, F. (eds) The Science and Practice of Lithium Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45923-3_13

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