Lithium therapy is widely used in the treatment of which condition?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Hyperactivity
• C. Aggression
• D. Manic-depressive disorder

Answer: (D)

Lithium is used primarily as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). It helps prevent the extreme mood swings that characterize bipolar disorder, reducing the frequency and severity of manic and depressive episodes and lowering suicide risk. This is why the treatment is described as widely used for this condition. It isn’t a standard therapy for hypertension, hyperactivity, or aggression, which are managed with other medications. In practice, lithium requires careful monitoring because its therapeutic window is narrow and levels must be kept within a specific range to avoid toxicity; monitoring kidney and thyroid function is also important due to potential side effects.