Skip to main content
Log in

Long-term lithium treatment: Effect on simulated driving and other psychological tests

  • Originals
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The effect of lithium administered for six months on simulated car driving and other psychological tests was studied in patients with Menière's disease. The dose of lithium was adjusted every two weeks to maintain the serum level between 0.7 and 1.0 mmol/l. The trial was double-blind and cross-over in type, the effect of lithium being compared with a placebo. The subjects were within the normal range of Beck's depression scale and Marke-Nyman's temperament scale. Lithium was found neither to influence the simulated driving nor to affect the scores in the two rating scales. The only specific complaints observed during lithium treatment were tremor and increased thirst.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Amdisen, A.: Serum lithium determination for clinical use. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest.20 104 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bech, P.: Mental illness and simulated driving before and during treatment. Pharmakopsychiat.8 143–150 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bech, P., Rafaelsen, L., Rafaelsen, O.J.: Cannabis: A psychopharmacological review. Dan. med. Bull.21 106–120 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bech, P., Gram, L.F., Dein, E., Jacobsen, O., Vitger, J., Bolwig, T.G.: Quantitative rating of depressive states. Acta psychiat. scand.51 161–170 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bech, P., Vendsborg, P.B., Rafaelsen, O.J.: Lithium maintenance treatment of manicmelancholic patients: Its role in the daily routine. Acta psychiat. scand.53 70–81 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., Erbaugh, J.: An inventory for measuring depression. Arch. gen. Psychiat.4 561–571 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brightwell, D.R., Abramson, M.: Personality characteristics in patients with vertigo. Arch. Otolaryng.101 364–366 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Coppen, A.: The Marke-Nyman temperament scale: An English translation. Brit. J. med. Psychol.39 55–59 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Demers, R.G., Heminger, G.R.: Visual-motor performance during lithium treatment. J. clin. Pharmacol.11 274–279 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Linnoila, M., Saarie, I., Maki, M.: Effect of treatment with diazepam or lithium and alcohol on psychomotor skills related to driving. Europ. J. clin. Pharmacol.7 337–342 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Nyman, G.E., Marke, S.: Sjöbrings differentiella psykologi. (The differential psychology of Sjöbring). Lund: Gleerups 1962

    Google Scholar 

  12. Perris, C.: A study of bipolar (manicdepressive) and unipolar (recurrent depressive) psychoses. IV. A multi-dimensional study of personality traits. Acta psychiat. scand., Suppl.194, 68–82 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rafaelsen, O.J., Bech, P., Rafaelsen, L.: Simulated car driving influenced by cannabis and alcohol. Pharmakopsychiat.6 71–83 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schou, M., Amdisen, A., Thomsen, K.: The effect of lithium on the normal mind. In: De psychiatria pregrediente II (eds. P. Baudis, E. Peterova, V. Sedivec), pp. 712–721. Plzen: 1968

  15. Siegel, S.: Non-parametric statistics. New York: McGraw Hill 1956

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sjöbring, H.: Personality structure and development. Acta psychiat. scand. Suppl.244, 115–157 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Stallone, F., Shelley, E.M., Mendlewicz, J., Fieve, R.B.: The use of lithium in affective disorders, III. A double-blind study of prophylaxis in bipolar illness. Amer. J. Psychiat.130 1006–1010 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Thomsen, J., Bech, P., Geisler, A., Prytz, S., Rafaelsen, O.J., Vendsborg, P.B., Zilstorff, K.: Lithium treatment of Menière's disease. Results of a double-blind cross-over trial. Acta oto-laryng. (Stockh.), (in press 1976)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bech, P., Thomsen, J. & Rafaelsen, O.J. Long-term lithium treatment: Effect on simulated driving and other psychological tests. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 10, 331–335 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565622

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565622

Key words

Navigation