Lithium as augmentation for major depressive disorder

Abstract

Although lithium does not have an FDA approved indication for augmentation of an antidepressant in major depressive disorder, it has been prescribed for this purpose for decades. While a wide variety of medications have been used historically in this capacity, lithium is one of the few agents that has demonstrated efficacy in multiple randomized controlled trials. Although the ideal role for lithium augmentation has yet to be established, there is currently ample evidence to support the clinical practice of adding lithium to conventional antidepressants in pursuit of major depressive disorder remission.