The History of Lithium and Manic Depression

In 1894, Danish psychiatrist Freda Ricolang published a report of successful treatment with lithium in 35 patients with recurrent depression. In 1949, Australian John Cade picked up on the uric acid theory and brought lithium into the modern age. Uric acid is indeed elevated during mania, and lithium indeed lowers it. The theory led to five positive randomized controlled trials in mania with the anti-gout med allopuronal.