Lithium carbonate in the treatment of manic depressive psychosis in children.

The authors present their experience of prophylactic lithium therapy in seven children diagnosed as manic depressive psychosis, bipolar type, according to International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of lithium as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for manic depressive illness in children. Side-effects are not a problem if serum lithium levels are maintained between 0.6-1.2 mEq/L. Renal functions have remained un-impaired even after three years of lithium therapy in four children.