Adjunctive gabapentin in patients with intellectual disability and bipolarspectrum disorders

The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of adjunctive gabap entin (GBP) in the treatment of patients with intellectual disability (ID) and bipolar spectrum disorders. Ten affected subjects with demonstrable inc reases in symptomatology during 'significant' life events which had interfe red with or induced the interruption of their rehabilitation programmes wer e chosen for this study. The meaning of 'significant' was defined for each patient as a frequently repeated life event which had elicited a marked inc rease in symptoms on at least two occasions. Gabapentin (300-900 mg day-1) was added to the standard therapy. The subjects' psychopathological conditi ons during the significant life event were assessed by means of standardize d tools both before and after adjunctive therapy with GBP. A positive respo nse to therapy was observed, with subsequent improvement of psychopathologi cal conditions, particularly for anxiety and depressive symptoms. The promi sing results obtained with GBP suggest the need for further trials. Adjunct ive GBP may become an alternative treatment approach for patients with ID i n whom traditional mood-stabilizing agents have frequent contraindications.