HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Duncan, D. Articles by Taylor, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Duncan, D. Articles by Taylor, D.

Lamotrigine in bipolar affective disorder

Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ

Harry W. McConnell, Neurology Research Fellow

Institute of Psychiatry, London

David Taylor, Chief Pharmacist

Maudsley Hospital, London

^* Correspondence

Aims and method The study aimed to assess the available data on the use of lamotrigine as a mood stabilising agent. We reviewed all published and unpublished data available to us through a Medline search from 1987–1998 and from our own files, which include reference materials presented at conferences as well as published reports.

Results Most of the data found were derived from case reports or open trials. We could find no published double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. The data from initial open trials suggest that lamotrigine may be effective in bipolar disorder, but futher data are required before specific treatment recommendations can be made.

Clinical implications At this early stage, there are too few data to recommend lamotrigine for first or second line therapy in bipolar disorder. However, initial reports are very promising and this agent may eventually be unequivocally shown to be useful in treating mania, hypomania, depression, rapid cycling and mixed affective states in people with bipolar disorder.