title: Cognitive functioning in bipolar patients receiving lamotrigine: preliminary results.
abstract: Despite the increasing use of lamotrigine (LTG) in bipolar disorder, little is known about its impact on cognition in bipolar patients. Therefore, we have evaluated 33 bipolar I and II patients on cognitive measures (verbal memory, attention, executive functions) while receiving either LTG (n = 15) or another anticonvulsant (carbamazepine or valproate; n = 18). Patients receiving LTG were generally diagnosed as having bipolar II disorder, had experienced more depressive episodes but a lesser number of hospitalizations, and had better performance than the patients receiving carbamazepine or valproate on the verbal fluency task. A moderate effect size also suggests that both groups may differ on the immediate verbal memory test (California Verbal Learning Test). These preliminary results suggest a safer neurocognitive profile of LTG on bipolar patients, as compared with other anticonvulsants.
authors.affiliation: Bipolar Disorders Program, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Spain.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daban
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Arán
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torrent
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Moreno
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goikolea
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benabarre
authors.forename: Merce
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comes
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colom
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vieta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine