The British Journal of Psychiatry 141: 411-419 (1982)
© 1982 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychological effects, compliance, and response to long-term lithium
B Muller-Oerlinghausen
The most relevant psychological and neuropsychophysiological effects
induced by lithium in healthy volunteers or in patients during the free
interval are changes of vigilance and possible changes in patients'
personality. In EEG terms lithium acts as a "chopper" and induces left-
hemispheric asymmetry. Interesting concepts for description of personality
changes are the typus melancholicus of Tellenbach and the psychoanalytical
view of depression. Effects in an individual patient are heterogeneous and
cannot be predicted. Primary and secondary psychological effects may
influence compliance, and a detailed analysis of compliance seems
necessary.