Which clinical factors predict response to prophylactic lithium?
Author(s): Kleindienst N, Engel R, Greil W Affiliation(s): Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Germany. Publication date & source: 2005-10, Bipolar Disord., 7(5):404-17. Publication type: Review OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to systematically integrate the available evidence on response prediction to prophylactic lithium based on clinical factors. METHODS: Each clinical variable that was related to lithium response in at least one prior study was examined with respect to response prediction. If several studies were located for the same variable, results were integrated using the meta-analytic approach as suggested by DerSimonian and Laird which was developed for substantial heterogeneity in primary studies. RESULTS: Of 42 potential clinical predictors investigated, five variables were identified as possible response predictors of prophylactic lithium: [1] An episodic pattern of mania-depression-interval, and [2] a high age of illness onset were identified as potenti
