PREDICTORS OF RESPONSE TO LITHIUM IN PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSES

Objective: This study sought to characterize a subset of patients with DSM-III schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder who respond to lit hium. Method: Sixty-six psychotic patients were given a systematic the rapeutic trial of lithium alone. Differences in demographic characteri stics, symptoms, and family history of psychotic disorders between the responders and nonresponders to lithium were explored. Results: Respo nders and nonresponders did not differ significantly in age, duration of illness, length of current episode, distribution of RDC and DSM-III diagnoses, or number of positive symptoms. However, the responders to lithium (N=10) exhibited a paucity of negative symptoms and an absenc e of familial schizophrenic spectrum disorders. Conclusions: These pre liminary results suggest the possibility of pretreatment identificatio n of psychotic patients for whom neuroleptic medication could be avoid ed by therapeutic intervention with lithium alone.