title: Predictors of response to mood stabilizers.
abstract: Although lithium remains the preferred treatment of bipolar disorder, only 60 to 80% of patients with the classic presentation have an adequate response to this drug. When the response rate to lithium is considered across the entire spectrum of bipolar disorders, this rate probably decreases to 50%. Natural history, illness subtype, and comorbidity are all important general predictors of response to treatment. At present, the only predictors that seem to differentially favor divalproex, and possible, carbamazepine over lithium are mixed states and rapid cycling. An overview of clinical presentations that predict general and differential response to mood stabilizers is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Fatemi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kujawa
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Woyshville
mesh_terms: D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D008094:Lithium