SIGNIFICANCE OF OLD AND NEW ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC DISEASES

Besides the classical application in the treatment of different forms of epilepsies antiepileptic drugs are also used for the therapy of psy chic diseases. In the present review the elementary mechanisms of acti on, pharmacology, indications as well as side effects of antiepileptic drugs are described. Successively, the wide used drugs carbamazepine, valproate, phenytoin and ethosuximide and of new substances which hav e been launched or will be launched in the near future in germany such as lamotrigine, vigabatrin, gabapentin and oxcarbazepine, are initial ly presented with regard to epilepsies, and there after in the context of prophylaxis and treatment of psychic diseases. Several uncontrolle d and controlled clinical studies indicating the efficacy of carbamaze pine and valproate in the treatment of the acute manic syndrome and th e prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorders have been presented. An e ffect on the acute depressive syndrome is, however, uncertain. Because of the strong side effects of lithium and the non-response to lithium in some patients, antiepileptic drugs are an important alternative in treating affective disorders.