title: Anticonvulsants in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
abstract: In the last decade, a proliferation of research has emerged concerning the use of somatic treatments with anticonvulsant properties, e.g., carbamazepine, valproate, clonazepam, oxcarbazepine, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), for patients with bipolar disorder. A sufficient number of controlled studies have been conducted to allow critical review of the evidence supporting the efficacy of these treatments for acute bipolar manic and depressive episodes, as well as for the prevention of subsequent episodes. Further research is needed to establish the prophylactic efficacy of anticonvulsants as maintenance therapies and, perhaps most importantly, to provide clinical and biological predictors of response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0559.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McElroy
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nemeroff
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D002998:Clonazepam; D014635:Valproic Acid