R. Dardennes et al., COMPARISON OF CARBAMAZEPINE AND LITHIUM IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF BIPOLARDISORDERS - A METAANALYSIS, British Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 1995, pp. 378-381
Background. This meta-analysis assessed the equipotency of carbamazepi
ne and lithium prophylaxis in bipolar disorder. Method. We selected on
ly randomised, double-blind, controlled studies comparing carbamazepin
e with lithium from a manual and computerised search, and subjected th
em to a quality inventory. Their statistical results were weighted by
their quality score and combined. Results. Four studies met our criter
ia, yielding, overall, P=0.15. This result is not straightforward beca
use the studies showed significant heterogeneity (P<0.01). Conclusion.
Differences in statistical power and sensitivity of outcome measure e
xplain this heterogeneity and the conflicting results of the studies.
Therefore, the prophylactic efficacy of carbamazepine remains question
able.