Lithium + Tap water = less suicides

**sephodwyrm** · May 01, 2009, 10:47 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8025454.stm

Or at least that's what these Japanese researchers think may be the cause of the way below national average suicide rates of a prefecture in Japan. I wonder if it's within acceptable ethical boundaries to carry out a large scale testing. They could start with downtown Tokyo.

**bthizle1** · May 02, 2009, 01:32 PM

Interesting.....needless to say Lithium's toxicity can have many negative side affects. It has a very narrow therapeutic window too, a level of the drug in the body that is not too low to be ineffective but not too high to cause toxicity would be hard to achieve by means of Lithium induced water. There would be no way to account for how much "lithium water" individuals are drinking.

**Hookah Smoking Caterpiller** · May 03, 2009, 01:03 PM

to essentially force people to take mood altering substances is morally undefendable.

**sephodwyrm** · May 05, 2009, 02:30 PM

to essentially force people to take mood altering substances is morally undefendable.

That's not happening at all. But considering this, I think signing up for medical testing and stuff should qualify as part of national service.

**Hookah Smoking Caterpiller** · May 05, 2009, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by sephodwyrm

That's not happening at all. But considering this, I think signing up for medical testing and stuff should qualify as part of national service.

I ment if it goes forward, while medical testing is certainely comendable, to even suggest spiking tap water with lithium to enhance moods is utterly wrong.

**sephodwyrm** · May 05, 2009, 06:39 PM

to even suggest spiking tap water with lithium to enhance moods is utterly wrong.

No one did that. Did you read the article?

**Bovril** · May 05, 2009, 07:02 PM

I would be far more interested to know if there was an impact on the incidence of bipolar disorder (which is often treated with lithium). Suicide rates are effected by so many factors that a study of one area can't really help (though may suggest directions for further study). Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic componenthowever, and is not nearly as effected by environment as suicide rates.

On the subject of ethics, lithium is not toxic except in very high doses and has no psychological effects on people who do not allready suffer from unstable mood. Its also generally used to lower mood rather than raise it (i.e. to treat mania).

**OccamR** · May 07, 2009, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Bovril

I would be far more interested to know if there was an impact on the incidence of bipolar disorder (which is often treated with lithium).

Agreed, that was the first thing I thought when I read the title.

**★Bandiera Rossa☭** · May 07, 2009, 11:39 PM

Just give them some xtc and see if they want to kill themselves..

**Bovril** · May 08, 2009, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by Slurricane

Just give them some xtc and see if they want to kill themselves..

Give them enough and you'll destroy their seretonin receptors and they likely will.

**★Bandiera Rossa☭** · May 08, 2009, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Bovril

Give them enough and you'll destroy their seretonin receptors and they likely will.

Well we just pop a few thizzles.. not enough for that.

**bleach** · May 08, 2009, 10:57 AM

Re: bipolar disorder in Japan... I wonder if the country has a higher than average incidence rate? They are one of the highest for suicide rate, and I know many assume that to be a cultural factor, but maybe not?

**Bovril** · May 10, 2009, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by bleach

Re: bipolar disorder in Japan... I wonder if the country has a higher than average incidence rate? They are one of the highest for suicide rate, and I know many assume that to be a cultural factor, but maybe not?

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are remarkably consistent in their incidence across populations in terms of the numbers of people affected at some time in their life. They have a strong basis in genetics. However, the extremity of the disorders is affected by environmental factors.