title: Plasma GABA predicts acute response to divalproex in mania.
abstract: Bipolar I, manic phase inpatients were treated with divalproex sodium, lithium, or placebo in a previously reported parallel group multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled acute phase treatment trial. Plasma concentrations of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured before and after treatment. Higher pretreatment plasma GABA levels were significantly (p = .04) related to a better clinical response to divalproex (n = 19). Pretreatment plasma GABA levels did not correlate with response to either lithium (n = 13) or placebo (n = 31). Following treatment with divalproex sodium, plasma GABA levels decreased significantly (p < .05), compared to placebo. Pretreatment plasma GABA levels were not related to overall severity of manic symptoms. Plasma GABA may predict response to pharmacologic agents acting on the GABA system.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75216, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kimmel
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Orsulak
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014635:Valproic Acid