title: Antiepileptic drugs in mood-disordered patients.
abstract: Bipolar disorder is a common, recurrent, often severe mental disorder that, without adequate treatment, is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We review the evidence on the efficacy of a spectrum of antiepileptic drugs (AED) in bipolar disorder. Most studies have been carried out with carbamazepine (CBZ), valproate (VPA), and lamotrigine (LTG). All three of these AEDs have been shown to be of value in the management of patients with bipolar illnesses. VPA and CBZ seem to exert stronger antimanic effects and, to a lesser degree, acute antidepressant efficacy. LTG seems to be effective against depression and mania, with a more robust activity against depression. No firm evidence supports a role for vigabatrin, tiagabine, topiramate, or levetiracetam in these disorders.
authors.affiliation: NIMH Bipolar Research Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Mood Disorders Program, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gajwani
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forsthoff
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muzina
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Keming
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elhaj
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grunze
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; C476610:oxcarbamazepine; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine