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Monitoring patients on lithium — a good practice guideline

Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust

Brian Fitzmaurice, Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry

Jonathan Swift Clinic, James's Street, Dublin 8

Declaration of interest

None.

Correspondence: For correspondence: The Clinical Guidelines Team, Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust, Stevenson House, 555 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh EH11 3LG

AIMS AND METHOD

To develop a guideline that would encourage a systematic approach for both psychiatrists and general practitioners in the provision of safe, effective and consistent management of patients who are prescribed lithium. A multi-disciplinary working group developed the guideline following literature review and consultation with lithium clinics and specialist centres nationally.

RESULTS

The Lothian lithium guidelines include three sections: (a) a lithium treatment plan; (b) advice for clinicians on managing lithium levels; and (c) pointers for counselling patients on lithium. The treatment plan is a key document in the guidelines which, once completed, ensures continuity of care with the transfer of patient-specific information.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

This development has provided the opportunity for primary and secondary care services to work together in producing a guideline that will improve patient care and minimises risk.

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