Lithium is primarily used to treat which condition?

Lithium is primarily used to treat which condition?

• A. Major depressive disorder
• B. Bipolar disorder
• C. Schizophrenia
• D. General anxiety

Answer: (B)

Lithium is a classic mood stabilizer used most prominently in bipolar disorder. It helps smooth out the extreme mood swings of mania and depression, and it lowers the risk of relapse to either pole, making it especially valuable for long-term management. Because of these effects, it’s the treatment most strongly associated with bipolar disorder and is not the primary choice for major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or generalized anxiety, which are treated with antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anxiolytics respectively. Its ability to reduce suicidality in bipolar illness is another reason it’s favored for this condition.

Lithium is a classic mood stabilizer used most prominently in bipolar disorder. It helps smooth out the extreme mood swings of mania and depression, and it lowers the risk of relapse to either pole, making it especially valuable for long-term management. Because of these effects, it’s the treatment most strongly associated with bipolar disorder and is not the primary choice for major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or generalized anxiety, which are treated with antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anxiolytics respectively. Its ability to reduce suicidality in bipolar illness is another reason it’s favored for this condition.