LITHIUM ADDITION TO NEUROLEPTIC TREATMENT IN CHRONIC-SCHIZOPHRENIA - A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, CROSS-OVER STUDY

We studied the effect of lithium addition to neuroleptic treatment in chronic schizophrenia, for which contradictory results have been produ ced in previous studies. Twenty-one chronic schizophrenic inpatients r eceived lithium in a study with randomized, double-blind, placebo-cont rolled, cross-over design consisting of 8 weeks each of treatment with lithium capsules and identical placebo capsules. The total Brief Psyc hiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores at week 8 of the lithium treatment were improved significantly compared with those at week 8 of the place bo treatment. Of the BPRS subscales, however, only anxiety-depression improved, whereas none of the subscales for anergia, thought disturban ce, activation and hostile-suspiciousness improved. There was no signi ficant difference between the total Scale for the Assessment of Negati ve Symptoms (SANS) scores at any time during lithium and placebo treat ment. These results suggest that the addition of lithium to neurolepti c treatment improves anxiety-depression in chronic schizophrenia.