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Bipolar affective illness, often referred to as bipolar disorder, requires specific treatment strategies to stabilize mood and prevent both manic and depressive episodes. Lithium is considered a first-line treatment for managing this condition because it has well-established efficacy in reducing the frequency and severity of manic episodes and helps in maintaining mood stability over time.

Lithium works by stabilizing neuronal activity and has a unique ability to reduce the risk of suicide in individuals with bipolar disorder, making it a critical option in therapeutic management. Additionally, lithium has mood-stabilizing properties that are particularly beneficial for the cycling moods seen in bipolar disorder, which can fluctuate between episodes of mania and depression.

While antidepressants and SSRIs might be used in some cases, particularly for the depressive phases of bipolar disorder, they carry the risk of triggering manic episodes if not used in conjunction with a mood stabilizer like lithium. Antipsychotics can be beneficial for managing acute manic symptoms, but lithium directly targets the long-term management of the disorder.

Therefore, lithium is recognized as the most effective and safest medication for the overall treatment of bipolar affective illness, making it the appropriate choice in this scenario.