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. 2015 Dec;3(1):32.
doi: 10.1186/s40345-015-0032-2. Epub 2015 Jul 18.

The suicide prevention effect of lithium: more than 20 years of evidence-a narrative review

U Lewitzka  1 , E Severus, R Bauer, P Ritter, B Müller-Oerlinghausen, M Bauer
Affiliations

The suicide prevention effect of lithium: more than 20 years of evidence-a narrative review

U Lewitzka et al. Int J Bipolar Disord. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

The management and treatment of patients with suicidal behavior is one of the most challenging tasks for health-care professionals. Patients with affective disorders are at high risk for suicidal behavior, therefore, should be a target for prevention. Numerous international studies of lithium use have documented anti-suicidal effects since the 1970s. Despite the unambiguous evidence of lithium's anti-suicidal effects and recommendations in national and international guidelines for its use in acute and maintenance therapy of affective disorders, the use of lithium is still underrepresented. The following article provides a comprehensive review of studies investigating the anti-suicidal effect of lithium in patients with affective disorders.

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