Mood-stabilizers: the archeology of the concept.
OBJECTIVE
To review the history of 'mood-stabilizing' treatments.


METHODS
We have reviewed primary source data on the origin of the use of current mood-stabilizers.


RESULTS
This historical record on the origins of the mood-stabilizers points to a more ambiguous picture as regards pharmacotherapeutic specificity to bipolar disorders than is commonly conceded.


CONCLUSIONS
This review suggests a need for alternative formulations of the concept of a mood-stabilizer. An alternative to the currently dominant paradigm is that these agents have treatment effects, which need to be matched more precisely with patients' constitutional types in order to optimize outcomes.
Harris
Margaret
M
North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine, Hergest Unit, Bangor, UK.
Chandran
Summit
S
Chakraborty
Nabonita
N
Healy
David
D
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003210:Concept Formation; D005544:Forecasting; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000266:history* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; C004651:dipropylacetamide