Adjunctive lithium treatment in the prevention of suicidal behavior in patients with depression and comorbid personality disorders

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Felicitas Rombold - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Eric Lauterbach - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Werner Felber - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Bruno Mueller-Oerlinghausen - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Bernd Ahrens - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Thomas Bronisch - , Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (Author)
  • Birgit Kilb - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Ute Lewitzka - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Kneginja Richter - , Hospital Nord (Author)
  • Andreas Broocks - , Helios Klinikum Schwerin (Author)
  • Isabella Heuser - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Fritz Hohagen - , University of Lübeck (Author)
  • Arnim Quante - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)

Abstract

Objective. Patients with both major depression and personality disorders have a high risk of suicidal behavior. Lithium is meant to have anti-suicidal properties in patients with affective disorders. The anti-suicidal effect of lithium in patients with affective disorders and comorbid personality disorders has not been investigated yet. Methods. A post-hoc analysis of a subsample of patients with depression and comorbid personality disorder (PD) and a recent suicide attempt (n = 19) from the prospective, placebo-controlled lithium intervention study (N = 167), was conducted. Results. Three patients in the lithium group (n = 8) and two patients in the placebo group (n = 11) presented a suicide attempt throughout the course of the study. No differences related to suicidal behavior could be detected between the placebo group and the group with lithium intervention. Conclusions. On the basis of the small sample size, among patients with comorbid PD, lithium does not seem to have an effect on suicidal behavior in contrast to patients with affective disorders without comorbid PD.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)300-303
JournalInternational Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
Volume18
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jul 2014
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 84910055850

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals