Abstract
The distribution of RBC lithium ratios in vitro in a recently hospitalized psychiatric population was found to be multimodal. Psychotic patients who had an antipsychotic response during open trials of lithium carbonate alone were identified with high sensitivity (89%), but low specificity (51%) before drug treatment, by lithium ratios that were in the extreme modes of the distribution (&0.30 or &0.38). Diagnostic efficiency of the test was 61%. The DSM-III diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder demonstrated 90% diagnostic efficiency in predicting response/nonresponse during treatment with lithium carbonate alone. A subgroup of the psychotic disorders was similar to affective disorders with respect to course of illness, biological characteristics, and response to lithium carbonate.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 497-505 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Archives of General Psychiatry |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1984 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Psychiatry and Mental health