Double-blind comparison of addition of a second mood stabilizer versus an antidepressant to an initial mood stabilizer for treatment of patients withbipolar depression
Lt. Young et al., Double-blind comparison of addition of a second mood stabilizer versus an antidepressant to an initial mood stabilizer for treatment of patients withbipolar depression, AM J PSYCHI, 157(1), 2000, pp. 124-126
Objective: This study's purpose was to clarify the appropriate treatment of
bipolar depression by comparing the addition of an antidepressant versus a
second mood stabilizer for inpatients being treated with lithium carbonate
or divalproex sodium. Method: Twenty-seven patients were randomly assigned
to groups that received double-blind treatment with paroxetine or a second
mood stabilizer (lithium carbonate or divalproex sodium) for 6 weeks. Resu
lts: Both groups showed significant improvement in depressive symptoms duri
ng the 6-week trial. There were significantly more noncompleters in the gro
up being treated with the two mood stabilizers than in the group being trea
ted with a mood stabilizer and paroxetine. Conclusions: Both treatments app
eared to be effective; however, the addition of an antidepressant may have
greater clinical utility in the treatment of bipolar depression.