Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41841184›Full record

ArticleBioMed research international2026

Response and Adverse Effects to Lithium Treatment in Patients With Bipolar Disorder at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abebe Ejigu Hailu, Solomon Teferra, Ephrem Engidawork

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BioMed research international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Abebe Ejigu HailuDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aau.edu.et.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5071-0815
Solomon TeferraDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aau.edu.et.
Ephrem EngidaworkDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, aau.edu.et.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9931-6421

Funding

Psychosis Genetics Research in Africa: Building Capacity by Investing in PeopleR01MH120642 · NIMH · BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. · PI AKENA, DICKENS HOWARD, CHIBNIK, LORI BETH · 2019 to 2023
$3.1M
Addis Ababa UniversityNIH HHS R01MH120642
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study assessed the clinical response and adverse effects of lithium in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital (AMSH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A retrospective cohort and cross-sectional design were employed as part of the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations (NeuroGAP)-Psychosis, Ethiopia project including 262 patients on lithium therapy for at least 6 months; adverse effects were evaluated in 157 of them. Clinical response was measured using the Alda scale, and adverse effects were assessed via a structured questionnaire. Among the participants, 27.5% were classified as good responders (GRs), whereas the remaining 72.5% were classified as insufficient responders (IRs), comprising both partial and nonresponders. Significant differences were observed in age group, length of lithium therapy, concomitant therapy, and number of concomitant medications, with 33% of the IRs on lithium for 1-2 years compared to only 10% of the GRs; most patients in both groups had been on lithium for 2-5 years. Additionally, 83.2% of the IRs used other medications alongside lithium, with 78% using just one additional medication. Logistic regression found that age (p = 0.008), concurrent use of other psychiatric medications (p < 0.001), and stable lithium plasma levels (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with lithium response. Regarding adverse effects, 58.6% of patients reported at least one adverse event, with tremors, excessive thirst, and frequent urination being the most common. Age, tobacco use, and treatment duration were associated with lithium adverse effects, with younger age and tobacco use linked to higher risk, whereas older age and longer treatment were associated with fewer adverse effects. In conclusion, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring use of psychiatric concomitant medications and plasma lithium levels to improve outcomes in BD patients on lithium.

Indexed as

Bipolar DisorderLithiumLithium CompoundsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHospitals, PsychiatricHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultLithiumLithium Compoundsadverse effectsbipolar disorderlithiummood stabilizerstreatment response

Identifiers

PMID41841184
PMCPMC13140823

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.