- Lithium carbonate remains first-line for bipolar disorder, showing strong therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy yet posing chronic or acute toxicity risk.
- Wakeful EEG demonstrates changes correlated with serum lithium concentrations before and after treatment, aiding assessment of lithium-related neurotoxicity.
- EEG is a sensitive adjunctive examination in lithium-induced encephalopathy and informs safe management of manic and other psychiatric conditions treated with lithium.
Clin EEG Neurosci. 2026 Jun 2:15500594261455079. doi: 10.1177/15500594261455079. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Lithium carbonate is a first-line psychopharmacological agent for the treatment of mood disorders, demonstrating significant therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy in the management and prevention of relapses in bipolar affective disorders characterized by manic and depressive episodes. However, chronic lithium therapy or acute overdose can lead to toxicity, with symptoms predominantly observed in individuals with a psychiatric history. Clinical manifestations of lithium toxicity are primarily neurologic and gastrointestinal. This article presents the diagnosis and treatment of a case of lithium toxicity, incorporating an analysis of the literature on the characteristics of wakeful EEG before and after treatment in relation to serum lithium levels. It was found that EEG, as an adjunctive examination in lithium-induced encephalopathy, serves as a sensitive tool for assessing lithium-related neurotoxicity, facilitating the safe management of manic disorders and other psychiatric conditions treated with lithium carbonate.
PMID:42227231 | DOI:10.1177/15500594261455079
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