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Three decades of recurrent manic episodes modulated by nineteen years of lithium therapy
Author(s) -
Canolty Nancy L.,
Jennings Marcus R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.533.4
Subject(s) - medicine , mania , lithium (medication) , pediatrics , depression (economics) , bipolar disorder , economics , macroeconomics
Investigations of mania without depression are limited. This study is based on a 34‐year record by one of the authors (nlc) who first experienced a manic episode in 1978 at the age of 36. Lithium therapy was begun in the midst of an episode seven years later, continued for 19 years, then discontinued. Overall, without depression, there were 102 manic episodes with a mean duration of 18 days per episode. Episodes before (Period I), during (Period II), and after (Period III) lithium therapy were compared. In Period I (7 yrs) there were 12.7 episodes with a mean frequency of 1.8 episodes per year and a mean duration of 17 days per episode. In Period II (19 yrs) there were 63.3 episodes with a mean frequency of 3.4 episodes per year and a mean duration of 14 days per episode. In Period III (9 yrs) there were 26.0 episodes with a mean frequency of 3.0 episodes per year and a mean duration of 28 days per episode. Overall, 85% of the days were episode‐free during the 34‐year period of recurrent manic episodes. In Periods I, II and III, 92%, 87% and 77%, respectively, of the days were episode‐free. This demonstrates that episode‐free days were not increased during or after 19 years of lithium therapy.