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Developments in mood stabilisers

Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Nicol Ferrier

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Abstract

Bipolar affective disorder is a life-long condition with profound effects on sufferers' social and occupational life. Despite efficacy in clinical trials and in some groups of patients, lithium's effectiveness in clinical practice is hampered by its side effect profile and limited concordance. Alternative and adjunctive treatments to lithium in bipolar disorder have been sought and the anticonvulsants carbamazepine and valproate show promise. Despite these advances, treatment resistance persists. Lamotrigine, a new anticonvulsant is increasingly used in treatment-resistant cases under specialist supervision. Further pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for bipolar prophylaxis are currently under investigation. These developments are the focus of this review.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Ferrier IN

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: British Medical Bulletin

Year: 2001

Volume: 57

Issue: 1

Pages: 179-192

Print publication date: 01/01/2001

ISSN (print): 0007-1420

ISSN (electronic): 1471-8391

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bmb/57.1.179

DOI: 10.1093/bmb/57.1.179

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