Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The included studies were double blind, parallel group design; either single or double blind crossover; or open trials.
Specific interventions included in the review
Lithium (dosage not stated). The control was either placebo or active treatment (chlorpromazine, haloperidol, carbamazepine, valproate, verapamil, risperidone or clonidine). Treatment periods ranged from 20 days to 6 weeks.
Participants included in the review
Participants with mania. Inclusion criteria in the studies were participants who had American Psychiatric Association criteria (DSM-111, DSM-IV or DSM-III-R) for bipolar disorder, manic episode, Mayer-Gros criteria for manic depressive illness, Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) criteria for mania, or bipolar disorder.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The differences in the reduction in mania severity scores, and the ratio and difference in improvement response rates. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was the most widely used metric scale, whereas the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) was the most widely used global scale.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.