- Health - Medicine & Drugs ## Why does lithium work against bipolar disorder? Lithium remains the gold standard for one of the most complex psychiatric conditions. Scientists are still getting to grips with why. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. - Copy link - Facebook - Reddit - Pinterest - Flipboard In modern times we tend to think of lithium as powering smartphones and cars, yet its historical fame comes from its role as a mood stabilizer. Lithium was first used as a treatment for bipolar disorder in 1949. Yet despite…