Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:49:02.682Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Lithium Augmentation in the Treatment of Delusional Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. Pai ,
A. C. White  and
A. G. Deane
M. Pai
Affiliation:
Charles Burns Clinic, Moseley, Birmingham
A. C. White*
Affiliation:
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH
A. G. Deane
Affiliation:
Midland Nerve Hospital, Birmingham
*
∗Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Five patients suffering with delusional depression, and who were resistant to tricyclic antidepressants, were successfully treated with lithium carbonate. Delusional depression does not usually respond to tricyclic antidepressants, and ECT has been considered the treatment of choice. Such patients often refuse to acknowledge that they are ill. They, therefore, understandably often refuse to accept ECT. In order to treat, the Mental Health Act 1983 must be invoked. Treatment with lithium carbonate is more acceptable to most patients, and in the cases described, patients agreed to take this drug whereas they had refused to accept ECT.

Type
Brief Reports
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 148 , Issue 6 , June 1986 , pp. 736 - 738
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Charney, D. S. & Nelson, C. J. (1981) Delusional and non-delusional unipolar depression: further evidence for distinct sub-types. American Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 328–333.Google Scholar
Crow, T. J., Deakin, J. F. W., Johnstone, E. C., MacMillan, J. F., Owens, D. G. C., Lawler, P., Frith, C. D., Stevens, M. & McPherson, K. (1984) Northwick Park ECT trial: predictors of response to real and simulated ECT. British Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 227–237.Google Scholar
De Montigny, C., Cournoyer, G., Morissette, R., Langlois, R. & Caille, G. (1983) Lithium carbonate addition in tricyclic antidepressant-resistant unipolar depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 1327–1334.Google Scholar
De Montigny, C., Brunberg, F., Mayer, A. et al (1981) Lithium induces relief of depression in tricyclic antidepressant drug non-responders. British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 252–256.Google Scholar
Glassman, A. H., Kantor, S. J. & Shostak, M. (1975) Depression, delusions and drug response. American Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 716–719.Google Scholar
Henninger, G. R., Charney, D. S. & Sternberg, D. E. (1983) Lithium carbonate augmentation of antidepressant treatment. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 1335–1342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelson, J. C & Bowers, M. B. (Jr) (1978) Delusional unipolar depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 1321–1326.Google Scholar
Price, L. H., Conwell, Y. & Nelson, J. C. (1983) Lithium augmentation of combined neuroleptic tricyclic treatment in delusional depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1403, 318–322.Google Scholar
Slater, E. & Roth, M. (eds) Clinical Psychiatry (Mayer-Gross), 3rd ed. (1969) London: Bailuère Tindall.Google Scholar
Spiker, D. G., Hanin, I., Perel, J. M., Cofsky, J. E., Rossi, A. J. & Sorisio, D. (1982) Pharmacological treatment of delusional depressive. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 18.4, 184–186.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.