Oxcarbazepine treatment of refractory bipolar disorder: a retrospective chart review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if oxcarbazepine is effective as treatment for refractory bipolar illness in a naturalistic setting.


METHODS
All charts of out-patients treated with oxcarbazepine (n=13) were reviewed and clinical response assessed retrospectively using the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) rating scale. All patients had failed treatment with at least one previous mood stabilizer.


RESULTS
Mild improvement was seen in 46% (n=6) and moderate improvement in 16% (n=2). Fifty-four percent (n=7) of the total sample discontinued treatment because of adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxcarbazepine may possess mild to moderate mood-stabilizing properties in this refractory, mostly depressed, bipolar sample. This naturalistic study is limited by its uncontrolled nature.
Ghaemi
S Nassir
SN
Bipolar Disorder Research Program, Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. ghaemi@hms.harvard.edu
Ko
James Y
JY
Katzow
Jacob J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine