title: Olanzapine compared to lithium in mania: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Neuroleptics are of established efficacy in mania. Controlled data on the use of olanzapine in mania is however, absent. In this study, 30 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for mania were randomly allocated to receive either olanzapine or lithium in a 4 week double-blind randomized controlled design. There were no significant outcome differences between the two groups on any of the primary outcome measures, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (lithium 28.2; olanzapine 28.0; P = 0.44); Clinical Global Impression (CGI) improvement scale (lithium 2.75, olanzapine 2.36; P = 0.163) or the Mania Scale (lithium 13.2, olanzapine 10.2; P = 0.315). Olanzapine was however, significantly superior to lithium on the CGI-severity scale at week 4 (lithium 2.83, olanzapine 2.29; P = 0.025). Olanzapine did not differ from lithium in terms of treatment emergent extrapyramidal side-effects as measured by the Simpson-Angus Scale. Olanzapine appears to be at least as effective as lithium in the treatment of mania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa. 039berk@chiron.wits.ac.za
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ichim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D008094:Lithium; D000077152:Olanzapine