Lithium is not just used in batteries — it can also have a remarkable effect on our mood.
In the 1940s, Australian doctor John Cade discovered lithium to be a highly effective treatment for what was then called manic depression.
Today, it’s considered the gold-standard treatment for bipolar disorder.
Walter Brown, a clinical psychiatrist and professor at Brown University in the US, says when lithium-based medication works, “it’s extraordinarily effective”.
“It really turns people’s lives around.”
Lithium medication cannot only act as a mood stabiliser, but also greatly reduces the risk of suicide, a benefit often not seen in other medications.
Article originally published by ABC News on the 25th of April 2021. To read the full article click here.