W. Greil et N. Kleindienst, The comparative prophylactic efficacy of lithium and carbamazepine in patients with bipolar I disorder, INT CLIN PS, 14(5), 1999, pp. 277-281
In a randomized prospective clinical trial with an observation period of 2.
5 years, a subgroup analysis was tarried out for the 114 patients with bipo
lar I disorder (DSM-IV) regarding the prophylactic efficacy of lithium and
carbamazepine. Treatment outcome was evaluated taking rehospitalization, re
currence, subclinical recurrence, concomitant medication and severe adverse
effects into consideration. Special interest was paid to the enzyme-induci
ng properties of carbamazepine, which might lessen the efficacy of psychotr
opic comedication. Lithium was superior to carbamazepine in bipolar I patie
nts for various outcome criteria. Analyses in patients without psychotropic
comedication indicate that the superiority of lithium is not the result of
carbamazepine reducing plasma levels of concomitant drugs. Int Clin Psycho
pharmacol 14:277-281 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.