Cortisol Changes in Long-Term Lithium Therapy

Abstract

Morning and evening serum cortisol levels were investigated in a group of 53 patients before the start of long-term Li therapy and again after 4 mo. and 12 mo. on Li. The patients were assessed by means of the CPRS (Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale) and scores for 28 depression items were calculated. When 5 patients with manic/hypomanic scores were excluded the remainder (n = 48) showed a significant decrease in morning serum cortisol levels after 1 yr on Li. Those patients with the greatest differences between the CPRS scores before Li and after 12 mo. on Li also displayed significant differences between morning and evening cortisol levels before the start of Li and after 12 mo. of Li therapy.