The Journal of clinical psychiatry
Lithium in the Prevention of Postpartum Recurrence of Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
By Sharma V, Dietrich EL, Cha B and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
Women with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for relapse/recurrence during the postpartum period. This risk decreases with prophylactic pharmacologic treatment, compared to those who remain medication-free. Lithium use in preventing relapse has been studied extensively in individuals with bipolar disorder, though its specific use in the postpartum has not received as much attention.
Objective
The aim of this systematic review (CRD420261357096) was to estimate risk of postpartum relapse, specifically in women with bipolar disorder who received lithium prophylactically versus those who discontinued it during pregnancy. Study Selection: Following PRISMA guidelines, reviewers screened 45 studies focused on women with bipolar I or II disorders from searches of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases conducted on April 2, 2026, that were written in English. Data Extraction: Two independent observers extracted data using a data extraction form created on Covidence. Random-effects meta-analysis of recurrence proportions, between-study variance, heterogeneity, and leave-one-out sensitivity analyses were conducted.