Lithium and neuroleptics in the management of manic depressive psychosis

✍ Scribed by M. R. Lowe; D. H. Batchelor

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 691 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.470050322

✦ Synopsis

The history of the use of combined lithium and neuroleptics in manic depressive psychosis can be traced from more than 30 studies published over the last 35 years in patients mainly described as suffering from schizo-affective illness. DSM IIIR identifies one sub-type of schizo-affective disorder-schizoaffective disorder bipolar type-which may predict a good response to combined lithium and neuroleptic therapy. Whilst lithium and oral neuroleptics are widely prescribed, little attention has been paid to the use of depot neuroleptics. Haloperidol decanoate, used alone or in combination with lithium for up to 85-months has proved to be acceptable and effective prophylactic therapy for some unstable manic depressive patients.