Post by Mel on Jan 4, 2006 17:27:26 GMT -5
Bipolar Disorder; Recurrent refractory depression may be the hallmark of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder
Copyright 2006, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week viaNewsRx.com
2006 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com) -- A clinical study of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder suggests that recurrent refractory depression may be the hallmark of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
"[We] tested the hypothesis that divalproex would be more effective than lithium in the long-term management of patients with recently stabilized rapid-cycling bipolar disorder," wrote investigators from the United States.
"A 20-month, double-blind, parallel-group comparison was carried out in recently hypomanic/manic patients who had experienced a persistent bimodal response to combined treatment with lithium and divalproex. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to lithium or divalproex monotherapy in a balanced design after stratification for illness type (bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder)," J.R. Calabrese and colleagues, Cleveland, explained.
The authors continued, "Of the 254 patients enrolled in the open- label acute stabilization phase, 76% discontinued the study prematurely (poor adherence: 28%; nonresponse: 26% [of whom 74% remained depressed and 26% remained in a hypomanic/manic/mixed episode], intolerable side effects: 19%). Of the 60 patients (24%) randomly assigned to double-blind maintenance monotherapy, 53% relapsed (59% into depression and 41% into a hypomanic/manic/mixed episode), 22% completed the study, 10% had intolerable side effects, and 10% were poorly adherent."
"The rates of relapse into any mood episode for those given lithium versus divalproex were 56% and 50%, respectively; the rates were 34% and 29% for a depressive relapse and 19% and 22% for a hypomania/mania relapse," Calabrese and coinvestigators added. "There were no significant differences in time to relapse. The proportion discontinuing prematurely because of side effects was 16% for lithium and 4% for divalproex. The hypothesis that divalproex is more effective than lithium in the long-term management of rapid- cycling bipolar disorder is not supported by these data."
"Preliminary data suggest highly recurrent refractory depression may be the hallmark of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder," concluded researchers.
Copyright 2006, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week viaNewsRx.com
2006 JAN 7 - (NewsRx.com) -- A clinical study of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder suggests that recurrent refractory depression may be the hallmark of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
"[We] tested the hypothesis that divalproex would be more effective than lithium in the long-term management of patients with recently stabilized rapid-cycling bipolar disorder," wrote investigators from the United States.
"A 20-month, double-blind, parallel-group comparison was carried out in recently hypomanic/manic patients who had experienced a persistent bimodal response to combined treatment with lithium and divalproex. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to lithium or divalproex monotherapy in a balanced design after stratification for illness type (bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder)," J.R. Calabrese and colleagues, Cleveland, explained.
The authors continued, "Of the 254 patients enrolled in the open- label acute stabilization phase, 76% discontinued the study prematurely (poor adherence: 28%; nonresponse: 26% [of whom 74% remained depressed and 26% remained in a hypomanic/manic/mixed episode], intolerable side effects: 19%). Of the 60 patients (24%) randomly assigned to double-blind maintenance monotherapy, 53% relapsed (59% into depression and 41% into a hypomanic/manic/mixed episode), 22% completed the study, 10% had intolerable side effects, and 10% were poorly adherent."
"The rates of relapse into any mood episode for those given lithium versus divalproex were 56% and 50%, respectively; the rates were 34% and 29% for a depressive relapse and 19% and 22% for a hypomania/mania relapse," Calabrese and coinvestigators added. "There were no significant differences in time to relapse. The proportion discontinuing prematurely because of side effects was 16% for lithium and 4% for divalproex. The hypothesis that divalproex is more effective than lithium in the long-term management of rapid- cycling bipolar disorder is not supported by these data."
"Preliminary data suggest highly recurrent refractory depression may be the hallmark of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder," concluded researchers.