ABSTRACT
The objective of this chapter is to review the available literature on the use of lithium in the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder with an emphasis on evidence from long-term, randomized controlled trials. Early studies are reviewed that suggested poor response to lithium among rapid cyclers, some characteristics thought to be associated with rapid cycling and potential resistance to treatment, including endocrine and immune factors, and newer evidence supporting an equitable role for lithium in rapid cycling treatment.
