PREDICTORS OF VALPROATE RESPONSE IN BIPOLAR RAPID-CYCLING

Multiple regression/discriminant analyses were separately conducted to generate predictors of acute and prophylactic antimanic and depressiv e outcome in 101 valproate-treated bipolar rapid cyclers. Predictors o f good antimanic response included decreasing or stable episode freque ncies and nonpsychotic mania. Predictors of good antidepressant respon se included nonpsychotic mania worsening over the years of the illness and absence of borderline personality disorder comorbidity. This repo rt confirms prior findings that indicate that valproate possesses mark ed acute and prophylactic antimanic and antimixed effects with only po or to moderate antidepressant properties.