Clinicians’ preferences and attitudes towards the use of lithium in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorders around the world: a survey from the ISBD Lithium task force

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Table 2 Professional characteristics of clinicians’ who preferred lithium as a first option for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder

Variables categories	N.	Percentage^b
Professional category
Psychiatrist	363	84
Trainee/resident	56	13
Other	15	4
Years practicing since finished training
Trainee / resident	41	10
≤ 5	91	21
6–15	125	29
16–34	126	29
≥ 35	49	11
Sector^a
Public	329	76
Private	105	24
Area*
Urban	326	76
Rural	14	3
Both	92	21
Country economy
Developed	319	74
Developing	111	26
Level of complexity^a
Primary	10	2
Secondary	189	44
Tertiary	155	36
Other	3	1
More than one	76	18
Setting^a
Inpatient	66	15
Outpatient	210	49
Partial hospitalization	16	4
Other	2	1
More than one setting	139	32
Patients’ age^a
Children (up to 12 years)	0	0
Adolescents (13–17 years)	11	3
Adults (18–65 years)	408	94
Elderly (> 65 years)	15	4

^aQuestions referred to the predominant option where clinicians’ provided their professional services
^bPercentages are calculated within each variable