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A survey of lithium use in the elderly
Author(s) -
Bramble David
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930071108
Subject(s) - lithium (medication) , lithium therapy , medicine , gerontology , psychology , family medicine , psychiatry , bipolar disorder
A survey of 37 psychiatrists practising within a health authority area revealed that they employed lithium therapy in elderly patients in a similar manner to how they used it in younger patients. Their responses to a questionnaire were compared to pooled laboratory data concerning lithium serum estimations. There was general agreement between clinicians concerning the important aspects of treatment, yet there were some variations in terms of pretreatment screening practice and maintenance monitoring practice which have resource implications. Overall, lithium was regarded as being as useful in the elderly as in younger patients and also appeared, from analysis of objective laboratory data, to be used in similar ways in this group.