LATE NONRESPONSE TO LITHIUM PROPHYLAXIS IN BIPOLAR PATIENTS - PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS

65 bipolar patients who had shown a complete response to lithium proph ylaxis over a 5-year period were followed up for a further period of 5 years. 12.7% of them had at least two affective episodes during the l atter period, despite persistently adequate compliance. These late non -responders, as compared with stable responders, had a significantly h igher number of previous affective episodes and hospitalizations and a significantly longer duration of illness. It is suggested that the ma in determinant of late non-response is the 'driving force' of the illn ess, finally overwhelming the prophylactic effect of lithium.