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Physiological Characteristics of Tremor after Chronic Lithium Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Peter Tyrer ,
Ian Lee  and
Carol Trotter
Peter Tyrer
Affiliation:
Mapperley Hospital, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA
Ian Lee
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
Carol Trotter
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
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Summary

Twenty-three patients taking lithium carbonate alone in therapeutic dosage for a mean period of 43 months (range 6–108 months) and 23 control subjects matched for age and sex had the frequency and amplitude of postural tremor measured and extrapyramidal symptoms assessed by standard techniques. Patients on lithium had a significantly lower peak frequency of tremor than control subjects (P <0.05) and significantly greater extrapyramidal symptoms (P <0.01), indicating that tremor appearing after chronic lithium therapy is likely to be an extrapyramidal symptom. Such symptoms are common long-term adverse effects of lithium carbonate.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 139 , Issue 1 , July 1981 , pp. 59 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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