
- PsychiatricTimes.com Vol 26 No 10
- Volume 26
- Issue 10
Lamotrigine in Acute Bipolar Depression: Two Thumbs Up-or One?
I just read and enjoyed “Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder”1 at www.PsychiatricTimes.com, and wanted to thank the author for pulling together a great deal of useful information in a succinct and lucid format.
I just read and enjoyed “
There are, of course, many areas of controversy in the literature, and one of those concerns the utility of lamotrigine in acute bipolar depression. Would Dr Chou comment on the “++” rating for lamotrigine in acute bipolar depression in the
My impression, too, is that there is no convincing randomized, placebo-controlled evidence for lamotrigine in the acute phase of bipolar depression (although it may be useful as a maintenance agent).
Ronald Pies, MD
Editor in Chief
Psychiatric Times
Dr Chou Responds:
Thank you for the input, which is much appreciated. I understand the skepticism, especially given the single positive study and the several negative/failed studies. On the basis of only placebo-controlled studies, I would agree with changing the “++” to a single “+.” The revised
If you want to consider the numerous recommendations from practice guidelines as well as clinical experience/
expert recommendations (including my own), I would keep the “++,” but obviously, this is not the spirit of the remainder of the review.
James C-Y Chou, MD, DFAPA, ACPsych
References:
Reference
1. Chou J C-Y. Treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. Psychiatric Times.
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