Abstract
Objective: To review the literature on the effectiveness of anticonvulsant drugs in the management of bipolar disorder.
Methods: A selective review of the literature.
Results: Valproate is an effective drug, alone or in combination, for mania, but has limited benefit in bipolar depression. Although valproate is widely used in maintenance therapy of bipolar disorder, and secondary analyses suggest benefit, in the largest randomised maintenance trial there was only a trend favouring valproate. Lamotrigine has benefit in bipolar depression and maintenance, but not in mania. Carbamazepine is effective in mania. Other anticonvulsant drugs have been tried in mania, but with mixed results.
Conclusions: Valproate, lamotrigine and carbamazepine have a valuable place in the management of bipolar disorder.
Notes
This paper was presented at the Joint CINP/ASPR meeting, held in Brisbane, December 2005.