Letter to the Editor August 19, 2009

Systematic Review of Lithium Augmentation in Depression Resistant to at Least 2 Antidepressants

;

Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry 2009;11(4):172

Article Abstract

Because this piece has no abstract, we have provided for your benefit the first 3 sentences of the full text.

To the Editor: Refractory depression is common inclinical practice. At least 30% of patients fail to respond toinitial antidepressant therapy.1 In patients who have failed 1course of antidepressants, there is evidence from 9 randomizedcontrolled trials suggesting that approximately 50% oftreatment-refractory patients do respond to lithium augmentationcompared with placebo (p < .001).2