title: [Changes in quality of life and work function during phase prophylactic lamotrigine treatment in bipolar patients: 6 month, prospective, observational study].
abstract: Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness requiring lifelong pharmacotherapy. Therefore besides symptomatic remission, achievement of full work-related functioning and restoration of quality of life is a priority during successful treatment. The present prospective, observational, non-intervention study focused on investigating the effect of lamotrigine therapy on the quality of life and work-related function of bipolar patients in outpatient care.
  
  
  
  969 bipolar or schizoaffective outpatients participated in the study who previously did not receive lamotrigine therapy. Our present phase-prophylactic study was a prospective, observational, non-intervention study with a six-month follow-up. Evaluations took place at baseline and at months 1, 2, 3 and 6. Patients were followed with a Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I). Changes in work-related function was evaluated using Social Adjustment Scale (SAS), while quality of life was assessed with the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) scale.
  
  
  
  SAS scoreds showed a consistent decrease in the overall sample and in all CGI-S initial groups reflecting the improvement of work-related function during the six months of the follow-up. Q-LES-Q values in the whole sample and in all initial CGI-S groups showed a steady increase indicating a continuous increase in quality of life during the study.
  
  
  
  Our results indicate that during long-term prophylactic lamotrigine therapy the work function and quality of life of bipolar patients shows a significant improvement, therefore lamotrigine provides a possibility for full functional remission and restoration of quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis Egyetem, Kútvölgyi Klinikai Tömb, Klinikai és Kutatási Mentálhigiénés Osztály, Budapest, Hungary. gonda.xenia@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
authors.forename: Xenia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dome
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rihmer
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine