How effective is Lithium at preventing relapse?

1. One group of studies looked at how effective lithium is at preventing any type of relapse.

When comparing people taking lithium versus people taking no medication, these studies show that:

  • ANY TYPE OF RELAPSE

    LITHIUM
    67 in 100
    people taking lithium will NOT RELAPSE within 3 months up to 2 years
    33 in 100
    people will RELAPSE
    NO MEDICATION
    43 in 100
    people taking no medication will NOT RELAPSE within 3 months up to 2 years
    57 in 100
    people will RELAPSE

2) Another group of studies looked at how effective lithium is at preventing relapse into depression.

When comparing people taking lithium versus people taking no medication, these studies show that:

  • RELAPSE INTO DEPRESSION

    LITHIUM
    70 in 100
    people taking lithium will NOT RELAPSE into depression within 3 months up to 2 years
    30 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into depression
    NO MEDICATION
    66 in 100
    people taking no medication will NOT RELAPSE into depression within 3 months up to 2 years
    34 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into depression

3) Another group of studies has looked at how effective lithium is at preventing relapse into hypomania.

When comparing people taking lithium versus people taking no medication, these studies show that

  • RELAPSE INTO HYPOMANIA

    LITHIUM
    84 in 100
    people taking lithium will NOT RELAPSE into hypomania within 3 months up to 2 years
    16 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into hypomania
    NO MEDICATION
    73 in 100
    people taking no medication will NOT RELAPSE into hypomania within 3 months up to 2 years
    27 in 100
    people will RELAPSE into hypomania
Studies show that lithium is better than no medication at preventing all types of relapse. It appears to be good at preventing both depression and hypomania, but it may be better at preventing hypomania than depression.

Meta-analysis based on randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of relapse in people with bipolar I and II disorders from 3 months up to 3 years. (Lithium dose: to achieve 0.5-1.5 mEq/l).