Lithium

Psychopharmacology has certainly had the greatest impact on psy­ chiatric theory and practice since the psychoanalytic discoveries by Freud. Beginning more than 20 years ago, psychopharmacology has become a vigorous interdisciplinary science, and over the last 10 to 15 years has witnessed a tremendous growth both from a scientific and practical point of view. Lithium occupies a unique and central position in modern psycho­ pharmacology for several reasons. The introduction of the lithium ion in