Predictors of lithium therapeutic response in mania

ABSTRACT

Fourty patients diagnosed as Mania according to the criteria of ICD-10 were subjected to full Clinical psychiatric examination and psychometric assessment using Manic Rating Scale and Scale for Affective Disorder [SAD] derived from schedule for affective disorder and schizophrenia [SADS]. Investigations were done at the Start of lithium therapy and every week for one month, the dose of lithium was adjusted according to plasma level using flame emission photometer positive family history of affective .disorders was found to predict good outcome, while older age, previous depression, younger age of onset, paranoid features and formal thought disorders were found to predict poor outcome: