The psychopharmacologic specificity of the lithium ion: Origins and trajectory

This article examines the development of lithium therapy since its dramatic introduction into psychiatry in 1949. Since that time, lithium has been ex amined in the treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, but it is in the treatment of bipolar disorder that it is most effective. This su ggests that it has specificity in the treatment of this disorder. These fin dings are very relevant as they suggest that understanding the mechanism of action of lithium in bipolar disorder may hold keys to elucidating its pat hophysiology and to developing newer and more effective treatments. We revi ew the published data on the effectiveness of lithium in bipolar disorder a nd various neuropsychiatric conditions and also the available data on antic onvulsants and newer therapeutic agents in the treatment of this condition.