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Nature 425, 118-120 (11 September 2003) | doi:10.1038/425118a

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Drug research: The ups and downs of lithium

Helen R. Pilcher1

  1. Helen R. Pilcher works in Nature's news syndication team.

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Lithium has been used to treat manic depression for decades, and may help combat other brain disorders. So how come no one knows for sure why it works? Helen R. Pilcher reports.

"He sleeps normally, eats normally," says Sarah. "He's a fairly typical kid.