Citation

Isometsä E, Henriksson M, Lönnqvist J. J. Affect. Disord. 1992; 26(2): 101-103.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1447426

Abstract

Of 1397 completed suicides in Finland in one year, all victims (N = 20) that had used lithium in prophylaxis and treatment of a mood disorder during the three final months were carefully examined. Eight victims (40%) fulfilled the criteria of recent adequate lithium prophylaxis. Continuous or intermittent noncompliance with psychopharmacological treatment during the last two years was reported in the majority (85%) of the victims. Only two cases used lithium as a suicide method. The study suggests that problems especially in compliance but also in quality of treatment are likely to limit the usefulness of lithium treatment in suicide prevention.

Language: en