Year: 2006 Source: Bipolar Disorders, v.8, no.5, pt.2, (October 2006), p.625-639 SIEC No: 20080936

In 31 studies suitable for meta-analysis, involving a total of 85,229 person-years of risk-exposure, the overall risk of suicides & attempts was 5 times less among lithium-treated subjects than among those not treated with lithium. Similar effects were found with other meta-analytic methods, as well as for completed versus attempted suicide, & for bipolar versus major mood disorder patients. Risks of completed & attempted suicide were consistently lower, by approximately 80%, during treatment of bipolar & other major affective disorder patients with lithium for an average of 18 months. These benefits were sustained in randomized as well as open clinical trials. (88 refs.)