An association of intrusive, repetitive phrases with lamotrigine treatment in bipolar II disorder.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder is frequently associated with obsessional symptoms. However, no reports have identified a pattern of obsessionality that is associated with a specific mood stabilizer treatment.


METHODS
A chart review was conducted on five patients with bipolar II disorder who spontaneously reported a form of obsessionality characterized by intrusive, recurrent phrases after taking lamotrigine.


RESULTS
Development of the phrases occurred from 7-42 years after mood disorder onset and occurred only after initiation of lamotrigine treatment. The phrases improved with lamotrigine discontinuation or dose reduction and recurred with lamotrigine re-challenge or upon dose escalation.


CONCLUSIONS
A possible mechanism for the development of the intrusive phrases involves the influence of lamotrigine on glutamatergic regulation in a bipolar II disorder population vulnerable to the expression of obsessionality. Limitations of this report include its observational nature, small number of cases reported, and confound of concomitant medication use.
Kemp
David E
DE
Bipolar Disorder Research Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. kemp.david@gmail.com
Gilmer
William S
WS
Fleck
Jenelle
J
Dago
Pedro L
PL
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003702:Delusions / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012008:Recurrence; D012660:Semantics; D013850:Thinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine