Citation

Kabacs N, Memon A, Obinwa T, Stochl J, Perez J. Br. J. Psychiatry 2011; 198(5): 406-407.

Affiliation

Block 7, Ida Darwin, Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5EE, UK. jp440@cam.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.110.088617

PMID

21525523

Abstract

Lithium can be found naturally in drinking water. In clinical practice, it is widely used in pharmacological doses for the treatment of bipolar disorder; and may also prevent suicidal behavior in people with mood disorders. In two studies, lithium levels in tap water have been significantly and negatively correlated with suicide. We measured lithium levels in tap water in the 47 subdivisions of the East of England and correlated these with the respective suicide standardized mortality ratio in each subdivision. We found no association between lithium in drinking water and suicide rates across the East of England from 2006 to 2008.

Language: en