Book Review: The Science and Practice of Lithium Therapy

Lithium is one of the most important medications available to psychiatry, and while it was used extensively in the past, the use of lithium therapy is now decreasing, especially in North America. Why? One of the reasons could be the side effects of the drug, but it could also be that this medication might not be as well known as one would think. This book by Malhi et al. will help psychiatrists as well as other physicians and health professionals update and improve their knowledge of lithium, providing a much better understanding of the mechanisms of action, the reasons for use, and the art of prescribing lithium salts. The general purpose of this book is to give a clear and comprehensive picture of what lithium does in the body and how to use it optimally. This book fulfills its purpose well in 21 chapters and more than 300 pages. To my knowledge, it is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on lithium therapy. The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part fully explains the “science” of lithium, which includes the pharmacodynamics and the pharmacokinetics of this ion, its impact on neurotransmission and the cellular mechanism, as well as pharmacogenomics or lithium response variability. The second part focuses on the use of lithium in clinical practice, starting with recommendations for international guidelines for lithium therapy; it includes its use mainly in the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorders and its particular value in suicide prevention. There is also a chapter on shortand mid-term side effects of lithium treatment. In the practice section, the book also reviews in detail lithium toxicity and the impact on the kidney, a very important issue for any dedicated clinician. The authors address the administration of lithium during pregnancy as well as its pediatric use, an approach, I think, unfamiliar to most clinicians. There is a chapter on the use of lithium within the elderly population, a consideration that will grow in importance in the years to come. Lithium is the mood stabilizer par excellence and should be revisited. I was particularly interested in the history of lithium in medicine and psychiatry, as well as various other chapters, such as the one on the neuroprotective effect and its effects on the stabilization of circadian rhythms. The book includes an appendix on the lithium battery– clinical in order to probe neurocognitive assessment during lithium treatment. For each chapter of the book, key points are highlighted. Numerous contributors (49), most from France, authored many of the chapters. It is written in good English, and the text is clear and not difficult to read. The book appears to be free of any conflict of interest or any commercial purposes. Its price is relatively reasonable for this kind of specialized book. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry / La Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie 2018, Vol. 63(5) 337 a The Author(s) 2018 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav TheCJP.ca | LaRCP.ca Canadian Psychiatric Association