Lithium and Medical Comorbidity

The Bottom Line

Psychiatric illness is associated with an increased burden of somatic disease. Lithium use was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, but not dementia in individuals with a mood or psychotic disorder diagnosis. Venous thromboembolism, Parkinson disease, and kidney disease were significantly more prevalent in lithium-treated individuals compared to both the general population and individuals with a similar psychiatric background.