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New data on the use of lithium, divalproate, and lamotrigine in rapid cycling bipolar disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

JR Calabrese ,
DJ Rapport ,
EA Youngstrom ,
K. Jackson ,
S. Bilali  and
RL Findling
DJ Rapport
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11400 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
EA Youngstrom
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11400 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
K. Jackson
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11400 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
S. Bilali
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11400 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
RL Findling
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11400 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH44106, USA
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Abstract

The rapid cycling variant of bipolar disorder is defined as the occurrence of four periods of either manic or depressive illness within 12 months. Patients suffering from this variant of bipolar disorder have an unmet need for effective treatment. This review examines two major studies in an attempt to update understanding of the current therapies available to treat rapid cycling patients. The first trial compares lamotrigine versus placebo in 182 patients studied for 6 months. The second is a recently completed, 20-month trial comparing divalproate and lithium in 60 patients. Both trials had a double-blind, randomized parallel-group design. The data from the latter study indicate that there are no large differences in efficacy between lithium and divalproate in the long-term treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder. In addition, lamotrigine has the potential to complement the spectrum of lithium and divalproate through its greater efficacy for depressive symptoms.

Keywords

Bipolar disorderDepressionRapid cyclingDivalproateLithiumLamotrigine
Type
Review
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 92 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier SAS 2005

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References

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Calabrese, JR, Shelton, MD, Rapport, DJ, Youngstrom, EA, Jackson, K, Bilali, Set al.A 20-month double-blind, maintenance trial of lithium vs. divalproex in rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Am J Psychiatry 2005 (in press)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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