Therapeutic efficiency with lithium carbonate in patients with bipolar disorder.

Abstract

The objectives of bipolar disorder treatment are mainly to decrease the frequency, severity and psychosocial consequences of the episodes so that is why the treatment is aimed to crisis prevention.One of the most commonly used drugs for this treatment is lithium carbonate.With the prophylactic indication of lithium carbonate,we evaluated the clinical evolution of these patients. A descriptive and longitudinal study was carried aut to patients who went to the lithium clinic with the diagnosis of a bipolar disorder,from the year 2000 to 2005. Fifty six patients were evaluated and their clinical history was completed,determining also,the age,sex marital status,school degree,occupation and total salary before the treatment started.When treatment was begun,a datta sheet was filled out on which patient hospitalization dates after thearapy were registered,as well as sede effects,toxicity level and lithium carbonate dose,archieving a lithium total between 0,6 and 1mmol/l, 81,6% responded satisfactorily to treatment.Hospital stays decreased from 22 to 7.Hospitalization rate was reduced from 1594 to 479. 91.1% has no side effects 58,92% of the patients kept a lithium carbonate dose of 750mg daily and none exceeded from 1000 mg.The prophylatic treatment with lithium carbonate for bipolar disorders is efficient, since it decreases the frequency,the severity and epidode periods,with a reduction of hospital admittances and hospital stays.