This book is a valuable guide both for psychiatrists and other physicians, primarily interested in the practicalities of lithium therapy and for patients seeking information about their treatment. Each chapter describes a specific feature of lithium therapy; the contributors provide fresh approaches to the benefits and drawbacks of lithium usage. Readership: psychiatrists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and patients.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
halftones and tables throughout
ISBN-13
978-1-85221-174-5 (9781852211745)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
INTRODUCTION: Manic depressive illness; The chemical nature of lithium; Production and reserves; MEDICAL APPLICATIONS: Acute treatment of mania; Acute treatment of depression; Schizophrenia; Prophylactic alternatives to lithium; CLINICAL PRACTICE: THE DECISION TO TREAT: Patient selection ad response prediction; Preliminary physiological function tests; CLINICAL PRACTICE: TECHNICAL ISSUES: Dosage and serum levels; Kinetics and tissue distribution; Excretion: Measurement of serum lithium levels; The 12-hour standardized serum lithium; Laboratory monitoring; CLINCIAL PRACTICE: TREATMENT IN PROGRESS: Relapse; Terminating treatment; Psychological aspects of treatment; Lithium self-help groups; CLINICAL PRACTICE: PATIENT FACTORS: Sex differences; Pregnancy, delivery and lactation; Concomitant physical illness; Risk factors; CLINICAL PRACTICE: TREATMENT COMBINATIONS: Anti-depressants; Anti-epileptic drugs; Electroconvulsive therapy; Diuretics; Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; EFFECTS ON ORGANS AND SYSTEMS: Body weight; The gastrointestinal system; The immune system; Brain and nervous system; Sexual functioning; THE MODERN CONTEXT: Economics of lithium therapy; The status of lithium therapy in psychiatry; The future decision to treat; Clinical practice: technical issues; Clinical practice: treatment of progress; Clinical practice: patient factors; Clinical practice: treatment combinations; Effects on organs and systems; The modern context
