1
|
Tondo L, Baldessarini RJ. Prevention of suicidal behavior with lithium treatment in patients with recurrent mood disorders. Int J Bipolar Disord 2024; 12:6. [PMID: 38460088 PMCID: PMC10924823 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-024-00326-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Suicidal behavior is more prevalent in bipolar disorders than in other psychiatric illnesses. In the last thirty years evidence has emerged to indicate that long-term treatment of bipolar disorder patients with lithium may reduce risk of suicide and attempts, with possibly similar benefits in recurrent major depressive disorder. We review and update selected research literature on effects of lithium treatment in reducing suicidal behavior and consider proposals that higher levels of lithium in drinking water may be associated with lower suicide rates. We summarize results of a growing number of randomized, controlled studies of lithium treatment for suicide prevention including comparisons with placebos or alternative treatments, and comment on the severe challenges of such trials. The basis of a proposed protective effect of lithium against suicidal behaviors remains uncertain but may include protective effects against recurrences of depressive phases of mood disorders, especially with mixed features or agitation, and possibly through beneficial effects on impulsivity, agitation and dysphoric mood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Tondo
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorder Centers, Centro Lucio Bini, 42 Via Crescenzio, Cagliari and Rome, 00193, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ross J Baldessarini
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tondo L, Vázquez GH, Baldessarini RJ. Prevention of suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2021; 23:14-23. [PMID: 33037692 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excess mortality is a critical hallmark of bipolar disorder (BD) due to co-occurring general medical disorders and especially from suicide. It is timely to review of the status of suicide in BD and to consider the possibility of limiting suicidal risk. METHODS We carried out a semi-systematic review of recent research reports pertaining to suicide in BD. FINDINGS Suicide risk in BD is greater than with most other psychiatric disorders. Suicide rates (per 100,000/year) are approximately 11 and 4 in the adult and juvenile general populations, but over 200 in adults, and 100 among juveniles diagnosed with BD. Suicide attempt rates with BD are at least 20 times higher than in the adult general population, and over 50 times higher among juveniles. Notable suicidal risk factors in BD include: previous suicidal acts, depression, mixed-agitated-dysphoric moods, rapid mood-shifts, impulsivity, and co-occurring substance abuse. Suicide-preventing therapeutics for BD remain severely underdeveloped. Evidence favoring lithium treatment is stronger than for other measures, although encouraging findings are emerging for other treatments. CONCLUSIONS Suicide is a leading clinical challenge for those caring for BD patients. Improved understanding of risk and protective factors combined with knowledge and close follow-up of BD patients should limit suicidal risk. Ethically appropriate and scientifically sound studies of plausible medicinal, physical, and psychosocial treatments aimed at suicide prevention specifically for BD patients are urgently needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Tondo
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorder Centers, Cagliari and Rome, Italy
| | - Gustavo H Vázquez
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ross J Baldessarini
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Baldessarini RJ, Vázquez GH, Tondo L. Bipolar depression: a major unsolved challenge. Int J Bipolar Disord 2020; 8:1. [PMID: 31903509 PMCID: PMC6943098 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-019-0160-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression in bipolar disorder (BD) patients presents major clinical challenges. As the predominant psychopathology even in treated BD, depression is associated not only with excess morbidity, but also mortality from co-occurring general-medical disorders and high suicide risk. In BD, risks for medical disorders including diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disorders, and associated mortality rates are several-times above those for the general population or with other psychiatric disorders. The SMR for suicide with BD reaches 20-times above general-population rates, and exceeds rates with other major psychiatric disorders. In BD, suicide is strongly associated with mixed (agitated-dysphoric) and depressive phases, time depressed, and hospitalization. Lithium may reduce suicide risk in BD; clozapine and ketamine require further testing. Treatment of bipolar depression is far less well investigated than unipolar depression, particularly for long-term prophylaxis. Short-term efficacy of antidepressants for bipolar depression remains controversial and they risk clinical worsening, especially in mixed states and with rapid-cycling. Evidence of efficacy of lithium and anticonvulsants for bipolar depression is very limited; lamotrigine has long-term benefit, but valproate and carbamazepine are inadequately tested and carry high teratogenic risks. Evidence is emerging of short-term efficacy of several modern antipsychotics (including cariprazine, lurasidone, olanzapine-fluoxetine, and quetiapine) for bipolar depression, including with mixed features, though they risk adverse metabolic and neurological effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ross J Baldessarini
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- International Consortium for Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Gustavo H Vázquez
- International Consortium for Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Leonardo Tondo
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- International Consortium for Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorder Center, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tondo L, Alda M, Bauer M, Bergink V, Grof P, Hajek T, Lewitka U, Licht RW, Manchia M, Müller-Oerlinghausen B, Nielsen RE, Selo M, Simhandl C, Baldessarini RJ. Clinical use of lithium salts: guide for users and prescribers. Int J Bipolar Disord 2019; 7:16. [PMID: 31328245 PMCID: PMC6643006 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-019-0151-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lithium has been used clinically for 70 years, mainly to treat bipolar disorder. Competing treatments and exaggerated impressions about complexity and risks of lithium treatment have led to its declining use in some countries, encouraging this update about its safe clinical use. We conducted a nonsystematic review of recent research reports and developed consensus among international experts on the use of lithium to treat major mood disorders, aiming for a simple but authoritative guide for patients and prescribers. MAIN TEXT We summarized recommendations concerning safe clinical use of lithium salts to treat major mood disorders, including indications, dosing, clinical monitoring, adverse effects and use in specific circumstances including during pregnancy and for the elderly. CONCLUSIONS Lithium continues as the standard and most extensively evaluated treatment for bipolar disorder, especially for long-term prophylaxis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Tondo
- International Consortium for Research on Mood & Psychotic Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Lucio Bini Mood Disorders Centers, Lucio Bini Center, Via Cavalcanti 28, 09128, Cagliari and Rome, Italy.
| | - Martin Alda
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Grof
- Mood Disorders Center of Ottawa and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tomas Hajek
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Ute Lewitka
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rasmus W Licht
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Aalborg University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mirko Manchia
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - René E Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Aalborg University Hospital-Psychiatry, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Christian Simhandl
- Medical Faculty, Bipolar Center, Sigmund Freud Private University, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Ross J Baldessarini
- International Consortium for Research on Mood & Psychotic Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in a Lifetime Perspective: Is Lithium Still the Best Choice? Clin Drug Investig 2017; 37:713-727. [DOI: 10.1007/s40261-017-0531-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
6
|
Abstract
Suicidal behavior is strongly associated with depression, especially if accompanied by behavioral activation, dysphoria, or agitation. It may respond to some treatments, but the design of scientifically sound, ethical trials to test for therapeutic effects on suicidal behavior is highly challenging. In bipolar disorder, and possibly also unipolar major depression, an underprescribed medical intervention with substantial evidence of preventive effects on suicidal behavior is long-term treatment with lithium. It is unclear whether this effect is specifically antisuicidal or reflects beneficial effects of lithium on depression, mood instability, and perhaps aggression and impulsivity. Antisuicidal effects of anticonvulsant mood stabilizers (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, valproate) appear to be less than with lithium. Further evaluation is needed for potential antisuicidal effects of atypical antipsychotics with growing evidence of efficacy in depression, particularly acute bipolar depression, while generally lacking risk of inducing agitation, mania, or mood instability. Short-term and long-term value and safety of antidepressants are relatively secure for unipolar depression but uncertain and poorly tested for bipolar depression; their effects on suicidal risk in unipolar depression may be age-dependent. Sedative anxiolytics are virtually unstudied as regards suicidal risks. Adequate management of suicidal risks in mood disorder patients requires comprehensive, clinically skillful monitoring and timely interventions.
Collapse
|
7
|
[Is there an increased risk for renal tumors during long-term treatment with lithium?]. DER NERVENARZT 2016; 86:1157-61. [PMID: 26341836 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-015-4413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Lithium salts are the recommended first-line treatment (gold standard) in national and international treatment guidelines for acute and maintenance treatment of affective disorders, such as bipolar disorders. Lithium has also been shown to have a unique protective effect against suicide in patients suffering from affective disorders. Despite the well-known acute and long-term adverse effects lithium therapy can be safely administered if patients are properly educated and carefully monitored. A recent study from France now shows that patients with severely impaired renal function who had been treated with lithium salts for more than 10 years could have an increased risk for kidney tumors (benign and malignant). This resulted in an adjustment concerning information within the package leaflet by European authorities. The authors of this article reflect the currently available data in order to better understand and handle this new finding and to warn about uncritical reactions including withdrawal of lithium in successfully treated patients. This article provides clinical recommendations to provide further insight relating to the risk of kidney cancer in long-term lithium therapy.
Collapse
|
8
|
Bschor T, Bauer M, Adli M. Chronic and treatment resistant depression: diagnosis and stepwise therapy. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2015; 111:766-75; quiz 775. [PMID: 25467053 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 12-month prevalence of depression in Europe is approximately 7%; depression becomes chronic in 15-25% of sufferers. One-third to one-half do not respond to an initial trial of drug therapy lasting several weeks. METHODS Selective literature review, including consideration of the German National Disease Management Guideline Unipolar Depression. RESULTS At the end of an initial trial of treatment with an antidepressant drug, usually lasting four weeks, its efficacy should be evaluated systematically. In case of non-response, the following options have been found useful: measurement of the serum drug level, dose escalation (but not for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]), lithium augmentation, the addition of a second-generation antipsychotic (atypical neuroleptic), and any one of several defined combinations of antidepressants. There is no empirical evidence for switching to another antidepressant. Electroconvulsive therapy is the most effective treatment for refractory depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy have also been found useful. The cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP) was developed specifically for the treatment of chronic depression. CONCLUSION The structured application of treatments of documented efficacy, in a stepwise treatment algorithm that gives equal weight to drugs and psychotherapy, is the best way to prevent or overcome treatment resistance and chronification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Bschor
- Psychiatric Department, Schlosspark-Klinik Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fliedner Hospital Berlin and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Charité Campus Mitte, Berlin
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Rombold F, Lauterbach E, Felber W, Mueller-Oerlinghausen B, Ahrens B, Bronisch T, Kilb B, Lewitzka U, Richter K, Broocks A, Heuser I, Hohagen F, Quante A. Adjunctive lithium treatment in the prevention of suicidal behavior in patients with depression and comorbid personality disorders. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2014; 18:300-3. [PMID: 24994476 DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2014.940052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with both major depression and personality disorders have a high risk of suicidal behavior. Lithium is meant to have anti-suicidal properties in patients with affective disorders. The anti-suicidal effect of lithium in patients with affective disorders and comorbid personality disorders has not been investigated yet. METHODS A post-hoc analysis of a subsample of patients with depression and comorbid personality disorder (PD) and a recent suicide attempt (n = 19) from the prospective, placebo-controlled lithium intervention study (N = 167), was conducted. RESULTS Three patients in the lithium group (n = 8) and two patients in the placebo group (n = 11) presented a suicide attempt throughout the course of the study. No differences related to suicidal behavior could be detected between the placebo group and the group with lithium intervention. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the small sample size, among patients with comorbid PD, lithium does not seem to have an effect on suicidal behavior in contrast to patients with affective disorders without comorbid PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Rombold
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Campus Benjamin Franklin , Berlin , Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Neue Fakten zur Phasenprophylaxe der bipolar affektiven Erkrankung. DER NERVENARZT 2014; 85:1166-70. [DOI: 10.1007/s00115-014-4083-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
11
|
Müller-Oerlinghausen B. [Are atypical antipsychotic drugs the first line treatment for bipolar disorders? Against]. DER NERVENARZT 2013; 83:1191-2. [PMID: 22911321 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-012-3619-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|