1
|
Fiorillo A, Sampogna G, Albert U, Maina G, Perugi G, Pompili M, Rosso G, Sani G, Tortorella A. Facts and myths about the use of lithium for bipolar disorder in routine clinical practice: an expert consensus paper. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2023; 22:50. [PMID: 38057894 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-023-00481-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder is one of the most burdensome severe mental disorders, characterized by high levels of personal and social disability. Patients often need an integrated pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach. Lithium is one of the most effective treatments available not only in psychiatry, but in the whole medicine, and its clinical efficacy is superior to that of other mood stabilizers. However, a declining trend on lithium prescriptions has been observed worldwide in the last 20 years, supporting the notion that lithium is a 'forgotten drug' and highlighting that the majority of patients with bipolar disorder are missing out the best available pharmacological option. Based on such premises, a narrative review has been carried out on the most common "misconceptions" and "stereotypes" associated with lithium treatment; we also provide a list of "good reasons" for using lithium in ordinary clinical practice to overcome those false myths. MAIN TEXT A narrative search of the available literature has been performed entering the following keywords: "bipolar disorder", "lithium", "myth", "mythology", "pharmacological treatment", and "misunderstanding". The most common false myths have been critically revised and the following statements have been proposed: (1) Lithium should represent the first choice for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder; (2) lithium treatment is effective in different patients' groups suffering from bipolar disorder; (3) Drug-drug interaction risk can be easily managed during lithium treatment; (4) The optimal management of lithium treatment includes periodical laboratory tests; (5) Slow-release lithium formulation has advantages compared to immediate release formulation; (6) Lithium treatment has antisuicidal properties; (7) Lithium can be carefully managed during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS In recent years, a discrepancy between evidence-based recommendations and clinical practice in using lithium treatment for patients with bipolar disorder has been highlighted. It is time to disseminate clear and unbiased information on the clinical efficacy, effectiveness, tolerability and easiness to use of lithium treatment in patients with bipolar disorder. It is necessary to reinvigorate the clinical and academic discussion about the efficacy of lithium, to counteract the decreasing prescription trend of one of the most effective drugs available in the whole medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie, Naples, Italy
| | - Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie, Naples, Italy.
| | - Umberto Albert
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maina
- San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulio Perugi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital - Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Rosso
- San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pompili M, Berardelli I, Sarubbi S, Rogante E, Germano L, Sarli G, Erbuto D, Baldessarini RJ. Lithium treatment versus hospitalization in bipolar disorder and major depression patients. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:245-249. [PMID: 37557990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preventing hospitalization of major affective disorder patients is a fundamental clinical challenge for which lithium is expected to be helpful. METHODS We compared hospitalization rates and morbidity of 260 patients with DSM-5 bipolar or major depressive disorder in the 12 months before starting lithium versus 12 months of its use. We evaluated duration of untreated illness, previous treatments, substance abuse, suicidal status, lithium dose, and use of other medicines for association with new episodes of illness or of symptomatic worsening as well as hospitalization, using bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Within 12 months before lithium, 40.4 % of patients were hospitalized versus 11.2 % during lithium treatment; other measures of morbidity also improved. Benefits were similar with bipolar and major depressive disorders. Independently associated with hospitalization during lithium treatment were: receiving an antipsychotic with lithium, suicide attempt during lithium treatment, lifetime substance abuse, and psychiatric hospitalization in the year before starting lithium, but not diagnosis. LIMITATIONS Participants and observation times were limited. The study was retrospective regarding clinical history, lacked strict control of treatments and was not blinded. CONCLUSIONS This naturalistic study adds support to the effectiveness of lithium treatment in preventing hospitalization in patients with episodic major mood disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sant'Andrea Hospital Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States of America.
| | - Isabella Berardelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sant'Andrea Hospital Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sarubbi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Rogante
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Germano
- Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sarli
- Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Denise Erbuto
- Dept of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Teaching Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ross J Baldessarini
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorder Research, Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fiorillo A, Ventriglio A, Sampogna G, Falkai P. Innovations in psychiatry: challenges and future directions. Int Rev Psychiatry 2022; 34:659-662. [PMID: 36586124 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2022.2153011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|