BJP Evidence-Based Mental Health
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sims, A.
Right arrow Articles by Garvey, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sims, A.
Right arrow Articles by Garvey, K.

The British Journal of Psychiatry 132: 152-154 (1978)
© 1978 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Problems associated with the analysis and interpretation of saliva lithium

A Sims, AC White and K Garvey

The correlation between serum and saliva lithium levels in patients undergoing lithium prophylaxis therapy is discussed. Although a high correlation can be obtained, there is an unacceptably high individual variation of paired results. Two strategies were used in an attempt to improve the reliability of saliva as a predictor of serum levels. A naturally occurring marker in saliva and serum was used. This showed high correlation but still did not prevent large sporadic differences. Serially paired results in individual patients also showed occasional excessive variation. Although saliva lithium has been used for monitoring when serum assessment is impracticable, it is considered that it is, as yet, an unreliable technique.




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
Copyright © 1978 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.