Lithium treatment present and future.

1. Lithium remains unmatched for long-term effectiveness against the morbidity and mortality associated with bipolar I and II disorders. 2. Lithium is the first choice for bipolar depression. 3. Recent studies suggest that long-term lithium treatment may have mortality-lowering and anti-suicidal effects. 4. Chronic lithium, or valproate, administration has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect on rat and human cultured neurons.