Cade's observation of the antimanic effect of lithium and early Australian research

Abstract

John Cade had a major influence on the treatment of affective disorders following his report in 1949. His discovery of the efficacy of lithium as an antimanic agent was the result of an inevitable progression from the hypothesis of a metabolic basis for mania to clinical trials. Starting with animal studies, he progressed to patients. Further reports on lithium in the Medical Journal of Australia quickly followed in 1950 and 1951. The present paper reports on these and other Australian studies over the next few years. Lithium has moved in 50 years from a novel status to an internationally recognised major treatment of affective disorders.