title: Lamotrigine in the treatment of recurrent brief depression.
abstract: Recurrent brief depression is a well-recognized subtype of depressive illness with brief episodes of depression alternating with periods of euthymia. The symptoms are often severe, with frequent association to suicidal ideation. Literature suggests frequent nonresponse to first-line antidepressants. Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant with antidepressant properties, and reported effectiveness in bipolar depression. We report on two patients with recurrent brief depression, nonresponsive to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine, and who responded to therapeutic doses of lamotrigine.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Lakshmi N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Arun V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ravindran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine