Lithium stabilization and misunderstandings: Toward understanding why lithium is underutilized.
Grof P., Duffy A.
In a recent Editorial, Malhi et al.1 stress how underutilized lithium is and the importance of rectifying this deficiency. Across published treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder, lithium is universally considered the gold standard and the recommended first line treatment for prophylaxis. So, why is it then prescribed less and less? In addition to the crucial points raised by Malhi et al.1 , we offer an explanation from decades of clinical and neuroscience research involving bipolar patients and their family members.