THE ROLE OF CARBAMAZEPINE IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION

The prophylaxis of unipolar depression is still a controversial subjec t. Some authors prefer lithium, others maintenance treatment with anti depressants. The role of carbamazepine remains unclear. Few patients h ave been described in the literature, and most are lithium nonresponde rs or rapid cyclers. In an open-label naturalistic study, 15 patients suffering from unipolar depression (DSM-III, 296.2, 296.3) and receivi ng long-term prophylaxis with carbamazepine were followed for 5 years. Four had been pretreated with lithium without satisfactory effects, 1 1 were prophylaxis naive. The mean time span patients received carbama zepine was 49.5 months. 73% of the patients gained substantial profit from carbamazepine. Side effects were infrequent.