@article{ref1,
title="Impact of lithium on suicidality in the veteran population",
journal="Federal practitioner",
year="2022",
author="Stark, Kelsie M. and Basit, Saadia A. and Mitchell, Brian G.",
volume="39",
number="3",
pages="130-135",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Lithium has known antisuicidal properties making it an important agent to study in veterans with psychiatric conditions, a population at high risk for suicide. <br><br>METHODS: A single-site, retrospective chart review was conducted at a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) teaching hospital. Patients taking lithium for at least 6 months were identified using the VA Lithium Lab Monitoring Dashboard. The primary and secondary objectives were to evaluate the change in number of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation from 3 months prior to lithium initiation to 3 months after a 6-month duration of lithium. <br><br>RESULTS: The review included 98 patients; 47 (47.9%) received concomitant psychotherapy, 50 (51.0%) were taking an antipsychotic, and 29 (29.6%) an additional mood stabilizer. During the 6-month intervention period, 75 (76.5%) patients had a lithium level drawn and 28 were in the therapeutic range. Of the 98 patients, hospitalization for suicide attempt decreased from 4.1% before lithium use to 0% after lithium use for 6 months (P =.045). Hospitalization for suicidal ideation also decreased from 13.3% before lithium use to 1.0% after lithium use for 6 months (P =.0004). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We observed a statistically significant reduction in hospitalization for suicide attempts and suicidal ideation in veterans prescribed lithium following nonfatal suicide behavior and suicidal ideation.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1078-4497",
doi="10.12788/fp.0241",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.12788/fp.0241"
}