Lithium and Memory: A Review

Abstract

This paper reviews systematic clinical studies suggesting memory and cognitive impairment inpatients suffering from unipolar and bipolar affective disorders treated with lithium. A number of studies failed, however, to demonstrate lithium induced memory deficits. Thus, the results of studies were equivocal. This lack of empirical consensus was in part due to the heterogeneity of samples and a variety of methodological and design problems. The definition of short- and long-term memory was often arbitrary and lacked standard criteria. Some studies revealed a stability of the memory test scores over time and showed that subjective complaints of memory impairment were correlated with depression. The authors also reviewed studies examining the effects of lithium on cognition and memory of healthy control subjects. In animal research it was difficult at times to distinguish between toxic and pharmacologic effects of lithium. There is a need for prospective studies of the effect of lithium in large samples of patients using refined memory tests.