Роль минеральных веществ в патогенезе психических расстройств

Early studies showed that women affected by chronic depression sometimes have copper, zinc, and cesium deficiencies [37,38]. Later studies suggest that the presence of depression and other neuropsychiatric symptoms is due to the deposit of copper in the central nervous system [39]. Eggers et al. [40] used SPECT to demonstrate a reduction in thalamichypothalamic presynaptic dopamine and serotonin transporters due to the accumulation of copper. There was a negative correlation between the density of presynaptic dopamine transporters and the severity of depression as assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

It was recently hypothesized that trace elements play an important role in the pathogenesis of

bipolar disorders by causing neurodegeneration [41]. Moreover, essential elements like vanadium have been implicated as a causative factor for bipolar mood disorder, while elevated vanadium and molybdenum levels have been reported in serum samples from bipolar mood disorder patients [41]. This latter study showed, using DSM-IV standard diagnostic criteria and classification into types I, II, and V according to the concept of Young and Klerman, that Na, K, P, Cu, Al, and Mn were elevated significantly in Bipolar I (Mania) (P < 0.001). In Bipolar II hypomania, Na, S, Al, and Mn were increased significantly (P < 0.02), while in Bipolar II depression, Na, K, Cu, and Al were increased significantly (P < 0.001). Finally, in Bipolar V, Na, Mg, P, Cu, and Al were increased significantly (P < 0.002) compared to a control group [41]. A recent study by Gonzales-Estecha and colleagues [21] found higher serum copper and zinc, blood lead and cadmium, and urine lead, cadmium, and thallium concentrations in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorders compared to a control group.

Increased neuronal oxidative stress (OxS) induces deleterious effects on signal transduction, structural plasticity and cellular resilience, mostly by inducing lipid peroxidation in membranes, proteins and genes [42]. It has been hypothesized that these pathological processes occur in critical brain circuits that regulate affective functioning, emotions, motoric behavior and pleasure involved in bipolar disorder (BD) [43,44].

The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage since it contains large amounts of polysaturated fatty acids and possesses low antioxidant capacity [45]. Several studies have demonstrated altered OxS parameters in the pathophysiology and therapeutics of BD, including changes in the levels of enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) [46]. The well-known stabilizing agent Lithium was found to limit the enzyme activity, potentially lowering hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical formation. Similarly, lithium was also shown to reverse increased OxS parameters in BD [43,47]. For instance, a decline in lipid peroxidation and an increase in CAT levels were observed in valproate and lithium-treated rats [42,48]. Accumulation of copper was shown to increase oxidative stress in bivalve species [49]. In skeletal muscle of Broilers Under Heat Stress, copper decreases because of dietary Selenium, Vitamin E, and their combination with an increase in antioxidant defense [50]. In humans accumulation of copper was associated with oxidative stress in allergic asthma patients, and introduction of nutritional supplement therapy accompanies improved oxidative stress, immune response, pulmonary function, and decrease in copper plasma levels [51]. On the other hands copper levels were elevated in several brain areas in a degenerative disease such as Niemann-Pick C [52]. Interestingly, Nieman-Pick C disease was specifically indicated to be associated with Bipolar Disorders [53]. If the results of our study are further confirmed, it will lend significant support to the hypothesis that minerals such as copper play an etiological role in psychiatric disorders, and WD may serve as a pathogenic model for the bipolar disorder. 

Bipolar disorders and Wilson’s disease

Антиконвульсанты при тревожных расстройствах

Can Anticonvulsants Help Patients With Anxiety Disorders?

Маниакальная симптоматика ассоциированная с приступами мигрени

This is a case report of a previously diagnosed "treatment-refractory bipolar" patient whose successful treatment of atypical migraine resulted in the questioning of any psychiatric diagnosis.

A 47-year-old man was referred to the Mood Disorders Clinic for severe migraine associated with mood, "psychic," and neurologic symptoms. He had first presented to Psychiatry 8 years earlier, for acute "mania" with agitation, extreme lability, intense anger, and religiosity necessitating hospitalization. Subsequently, he had recurrences of similar manic "crises" followed by a "depressive" states consisting of cognitive dysfunction, avolition, and anhedonia. He also experienced severe headache and nonspecific neurological symptoms. A diagnosis of migraine was suspected, and a thorough neurological work-up did not yield other diagnoses. Medical history revealed multiple recurrent migraine-equivalents since childhood (particularly, abdominal pain).

Each psychiatric "crisis" was preceded by weeks of increasingly frequent, severe, early morning migraine attacks, with subsequent sleep deprivation, and intensification of migraine symptoms, including aura, with disorganized speech and thinking and bizarre behavior. A prolonged period of complete rest would break the cycle of migraine, accompanied by complete resolution of psychiatric symptoms.

Previous treatments included lithium, buproprion, as well as nortriptyline, stemetil, valproic acid, and quetiapine, none of which were helpful. Family history was positive for migraine and negative for psychiatric disorders. On referral, his medications were propranolol 40 mg twice daily, valproic acid 500 mg twice daily, and lamotrigine 100 mg twice daily. Valproic acid level was therapeutic. A diagnosis of mood disorder, bipolar type secondary to severe migraine was made.

Discussion

This case illustrates the importance of inquiry of neurological symptoms, in particular headache, in patients with bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar disorder have a greater-than-twofold risk of having migraine, as compared with the general population.1 Treatment for migraine, irrespective of mood disorder, includes amitriptyline, valproate, topiramate, and beta-blockers.2 In patients with bipolar disorder and migraine, judicious use of treatments for both disorders should be considered. Lamotrigine was used for this patient because valproate, although approved for both disorders,3 did not ameliorate the migraine symptoms. For bipolar disorder, lamotrigine is efficacious in the prevention of depressive episodes and, possibly, rapid-cycling type.4 Less evidence supports its use in acute depression or mania.4 For migraine, lamotrigine was not beneficial in a placebo-controlled trial, but had some effectiveness in two open pilot studies for the treatment and prevention of migraine aura.2

Lamotrigine is generally well tolerated, with an acceptable side-effects profile (mainly dizziness, nausea, and insomnia), and may be considered for a patient with aura nonresponsive to other medication. Slow and low dose increase is recommended for side-effects monitoring, especially for severe rashes and Steven's Johnson syndrome. In our patient, lamotrigine was increased to 200 mg twice daily. Use of lamotrigine with valproate may increase lamotrigine concentrations by up to 200% because of increased lamotrigine clearance inhibition,3,5 and valproate levels may also decrease.3 The patient's headache duration eventually decreased to 1 hour nightly, and he returned to work full-time with a 45-minute nap.

Atypical Migraine Manifesting as Mania

Evidence supporting antiepileptics for mood disorders and schizophrenia

Medication	Bipolar disorder			Major depressive disorder	Schizophrenia
	Mania	Depression	Maintenance
Carbamazepine					(aggression, impulsivity)
Lamotrigine					(adjunct to clozapine)
Valproate					(aggression, impulsivity)
Gabapentin
Levetiracetam
Oxcarbazepine
Tiagabine
Topiramate
Zonisamide
	: strong evidence supporting efficacy;
	: moderate evidence supporting efficacy;
	: weak evidence supporting efficacy
Source: For an extensive bibliography of studies that support these recommendations, see this article at CurrentPsychiatry.com

Table 2
Off-label use of antiepileptics for various psychiatric disorders

Condition/disorder	Possible medication(s)*
Alcohol withdrawal/relapse prevention	Carbamazepine, topiramate, valproate
Benzodiazepine withdrawal	Carbamazepine, valproate
Binge eating disorder	Topiramate, zonisamide
Bulimia nervosa	Topiramate
Drug dependence/abstinence	Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine
Generalized anxiety disorder	Pregabalin, tiagabine
Obesity	Lamotrigine, topiramate, zonisamide
Panic disorder	Valproate
Posttraumatic stress disorder	Lamotrigine
Social phobia	Gabapentin, pregabalin
* Based on small randomized controlled trials, open-label trials, or case reports. Further investigation in large systematic trials is needed

Explain to patients taking topiramate or zonisamide that increasing their fluid intake will significantly reduce kidney stone risk

The FDA recently announced a warning of a risk of aseptic meningitis with lamotrigine.11 In 40 reported cases, symptoms—headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, nuchal rigidity, rash, photophobia, and myalgias—occurred between 1 and 42 days of treatment and typically resolved after lamotrigine was withdrawn. In 15 patients in whom lamotrigine was re-initiated, meningitis symptoms returned quickly and with greater severity.

Antiepileptics for psychiatric illness: Find the right match

Нейротоксичность лития при нормальных концентрациях

To the Editor: Lithium is used with great success in the treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar disorders, unipolar recurrent depression, and endogenous depression that is resistant to conventional treatment. It is also known to be neurotoxic at higher serum levels. In rare cases patients develop symptoms of intoxication even with normal lithium levels.

Case Report

A 61-year-old man with history of bipolar disorder that was managed with lithium for more than 20 years presented with complaints of psychomotor slowdown, unsteady gait, memory deficits, restlessness, sleep disorder, and severe tremor in his hand that prevented him from eating or drinking properly. These symptoms had begun in the previous week. There was no recent history of fever, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urinary complaints. He was medicated with lithium, 800 mg/day, and fluvoxamine, 200 mg/day, and the dosage of his medication had remained unchanged over the last year.

Neurological examination showed psychomotor slowdown, inattention, temporal disorientation, severe episodic memory impairment, motor and verbal perseveration, slurred speech, and hypophonia. Symmetrical global and segmental bradykinesia and lead-pipe rigidity, as well as tremor at rest, intention, and posture, were also evident. His gait was abnormal with shuffling small steps and a hunched-forward upper body.

An analytic study revealed no abnormalities, including CBC, renal, thyroid and hepatic function, and PCR. Lithium serum levels were normal (1.0 mmol/liter).

EEG showed diffuse slow background activity, mainly at 5–6 Hz, with periods of greater lentification at 3 Hz, which is compatible with moderate to severe encephalopathy. A brain CT was normal. The patient was admitted and lithium was stopped. There was remarkable clinical improvement over the next days, and he was discharged at day 5, asymptomatic and on valproic acid (300 mg/day).

Lithium Neurotoxicity at Normal Serum Levels

Эффективность лития и вальпроатов при повторных маниакальных обострениях

A larger number of previous episodes of affective disorder was associated with poor antimanic response to lithium but not to divalproex. This differential treatment response did not result from current rapid cycling or mixed states.

Explanations for reduced response to lithium in subjects with many previous episodes include the following: 1) Lithium resistance may develop with repeated episodes (2). Reduced response to lithium prophylaxis has been reported in patients with many episodes and early onset (3) and in those with more than three previous manic episodes (11). 2) Multiple lithium discontinuations could result in refractoriness to lithium. Most patients, however, have similar responses before and after lithium is discontinued (12, 13). Furthermore, in this study, previous response to lithium predicted current response (4). 3) A group of patients may have frequent episodes that were always lithium resistant, representing an inherently unstable subtype of bipolar disorder. If this proves true, early identification of such patients will be valuable in establishing lifetime treatment strategies.

These results are related only to treatment of acute mania. Further studies are needed to determine whether these relationships extend to maintenance treatment.

Differential Effect of Number of Previous Episodes of Affective Disorder on Response to Lithium or Divalproex in Acute Mania

Детский аутизм и эпилепсия

Medscape: What is the risk for epilepsy in autism?

Dr. Chez: The risk for epilepsy in autism is 10%-30%, and it usually develops in the teenage or early adult years. Children with autism who are lower functioning, with mental retardation and cerebral palsy, for example, are more likely to develop epilepsy.

In addition, there are many children with autism who demonstrate epileptic spikes when monitored on 24-hour electroencephalography, but who do not manifest clinical epileptic seizures. These may be worth treating with antiepileptic drugs, as treatment may lead to improved behavior and receptive language. If the spikes are in the central temporal region, affecting the language area, I will usually try a trial of valproic acid. Valproic acid may also act as a mood stabilizer in these children, and also inhibits interleukin 1 cytokines, which may provide additional benefit. Other antiepileptic drugs may also be effective, although I have not seen good results with carbamazepine. There is also anecdotal evidence of improvement with the ketogenic diet.

Dr. Pellock: This is a controversial area. There are a few cases where treatment of epileptic spikes has resulted in improved behavior. However, without a clear manifestation of seizures, it is frequently difficult to know whether the short and long-term risks of the medications are really warranted. Clear goals need to be established to determine whether the treatment benefits the child. As a routine, I do not treat isolated spikes on the electroencephalogram, just as I would not treat isolated spikes in any child, with or without autism.

An Update on Autism -- Perspectives and Treatment: Autism and Epilepsy

Потенциирование, добавление второго антипсихотика или повышение доз атипичных антипсихотиков

The atypical antipsychotics risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone,and aripiprazole have become first-line treatment for schizophrenia because they reduce the positive symptoms of psychosis but do not have a high incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms. However, these agents, like other antipsychotics, may take as long as 16 or more weeks to produce a response, and even with prolonged treatment are unlikely to evoke responses greater than 50% improvement in symptoms. This has led to the experimental use of high atypical antipsychotic doses, antipsychotic polypharmacy, and augmentation with other psychotropic drugs, all of which occur commonly in clinical practice. This article reviews the current evidence for these increasingly common means of treating
schizophrenia and psychosis, with particular emphasis on polypharmacy and augmentation. To date, there are only two controlled studies of antipsychotic polypharmacy involving an atypical antipsychotic; the rest of the data are uncontrolled trials and case reports that describe a mixture of positive and negative findings. One multicenter, double-blind trial shows a faster onset of action when divalproex is added to risperidone or olanzapine than with antipsychotic monotherapy. A small double-blind study demonstrates efficacy when lamotrigine is added to clozapine. The rest of the data on augmentation with anticonvulsants are uncontrolled, and most report adverse effects. With the exception of divalproex, there are currently no compelling data to justify the use of antipsychotic polypharmacy or augmentation. Existing evidence suggests that the best treatments for schizophrenia and psychosis may be long-term trials of a sequence of atypical antipsychotic monotherapies at therapeutic doses.

Increasing the dose in patients with partial responses or breakthrough symptoms is faster and easier than switching to another agent, and it is possible that it would result in improved efficacy. There are also some patients who may be
rapid metabolizers, and thus require higher doses than the average patient. However, although some patients may benefit from higher doses, this method of treatment can
increase the risk of side effects, especially motor side effects. Positron emission tomography (PET) data demonstrate that dopamine 2 (D2) receptor occupancy of 70% is necessary for therapeutic benefits, while occupancy greater than 80% is associated with extrapyramidal symptoms [34]. Doses at the upper end of the recommended range for the first-line antipsychotics may already result in 80% occupancy of D2
receptors in the nigrostriatal pathway [35], so that doses above those ranges are more likely to induce EPS. In particular, the risk of EPS with risperidone is dose-
dependent and may even increase above 4 mg/day

In summary, there is currently no compelling evidence to support long-term antipsychotic polypharmacy. There are few theoretical benefits and many theoretical detriments. Although individual patients may respond to antipsychotic
polypharmacy without side effects, adequate trials have not yet determined the costs versus the benefits of this option.

The evidence for augmentation of atypical antipsychotics varies depending on the particular agent. Controlled studies with conventional antipsychotics suggest that augmentation with benzodiazepines is most likely useful as an acute treatment for patients with agitation and hostility, but controlled studies do not exist for atypical antipsychotics. As mentioned earlier, a multicenter double-blind study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of only one augmenting agent in schizophrenia, namely divalproex [96]. Controlled studies combining divalproex and an atypical antipsychotic also show additive benefits in bipolar disorder, strengthening the appeal of this particular augmenting strategy [167-168]. Unfortunately, there are no controlled data for augmentation of atypical antipsychotics with other anticonvulsants even though this is a frequent and expensive practice, especially with gabapentin. Thus, the evidence currently suggests that divalproex is perhaps the best evidence-based augmentation option when multiple monotherapies fail

A Critical Review of Atypical Antipsychotic Utilization: Comparing
Monotherapy with Polypharmacy and Augmentation

Прегабалин при ГТР

"These results indicate that pregabalin is an effective, rapidly acting, and safe treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. In short-term treatment, pregabalin does not appear to have the withdrawal symptoms associated with the benzodiazepines."

Pregabalin in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Placebo-Controlled Trial

"The dose of 150 mg pregabalin over the four weeks of the trials was found insufficient for the treatment of GAD. In the dose range of 200-450 mg daily, a clinically significant effect was obtained, although with a plateau-like curve which was not increased for the maximum dose of 600 mg daily."

Dose-response relationship of pregabalin in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. A pooled analysis of four placebo-controlled trials.

"The efficacy of pregabalin in treating GAD is not surprising as a number of other antiepileptic drugs have also been shown to have anxiolytic properties and to be effective in treating patients with anxiety disorders. Valproate has been shown to have efficacy in the treatment of panic disorder (Primeau et al 1990; Woodman and Noyes 1994; Baetz and Bowen 1998) and blocks lactate-induced panic attacks (Keck et al 1993). The antiepileptic drug carbamazepine has efficacy in the treatment of panic disorder (Tondo et al 1989), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Lipper et al 1986), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (Joffe and Swinson 1987). Lamotrigine is potentially effective in the treatment of PTSD (Hertzberg et al 1999) and may have an adjunctive role in the treatment of refractive OCD (Kumar and Khanna 2000). Topiramate has been shown to be efficacious in open-label trials for PTSD (Berlant and van Kammen 2002; Berlant 2004), social phobia disorder (Van Ameringen et al 2004) and may have an adjunctive role in treatment-resistant OCD (Van Ameringen et al 2006). However, unlike previous antiepileptic drugs which primarily block sodium and potassium channels or increase cerebral GABA concentrations, pregabalin decreases presynaptic calcium currents and in doing so decreases the release of several neurotransmitters, including glutamate (Dooley et al 2000a), substance P (Fehenbacher et al 2003), calcitonin-gene-related peptide (Fehenbacher et al 2003), and norepinephrine (Dooley et al 2002). Interestingly, many of these neurotransmitters have been implicated in the pathogenesis GAD or other anxiety disorders (Erikkson et al 1991; Geracioti et al 2001; Olsson et al 2004; Geracioti et al 2006). As might be expected, agents that pharmacologically dampen these systems have therapeutic roles in a number of anxiety disorders (Peet and Ali 1986; Furmark et al 2005; Strawn and Geracioti 2006). Also, decreases in the activity of these or related “fear circuits” that underlie the pathophysiology of certain anxiety disorders (Stahl 2004) could explain the efficacy of pregabalin in patients with GAD. It will be of interest to examine the effects of pregabalin in other anxiety disorders such as PTSD, panic disorder, or even meal-related anxiety in anorexia nervosa (wherein additional benefit may be conferred by pregabalin-associated weight gain)."

The treatment of generalized anxiety disorder with pregabalin, an atypical anxiolytic

Антиконвульсанты в терапии поведенческих и психологических симптомов деменции

"INTRODUCTION: Dementia, besides the dominant cognitive disorders that define it, is associated with behavioral disturbances, the consequences of which are, on various levels, a determining factor for the handling of these patients. The treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms is essential and although, to date, no therapeutic solution is satisfactory, it is necessary to look for an alternative to the neuroleptics usually employed, which raise real problems of tolerance in this geriatric population. BACKGROUND: For several years, anticonvulsants, among which some have shown mood stabilizing activity, have been the object of research in this indication. The purpose of this review of the literature is to assess the interest and the limits of anticonvulsant mood stabilizers (carbamazepine, valproic acid, gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, oxcarbazepine) in the treatment of the so-called "noncognitive" symptoms of dementia. Their mechanism of action in mood disorders is not well known, but it would appear to be via the modulation of glutamate-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission that anticonvulsants might reduce behavioral symptoms in demented patients. METHODS: The method employed in this work was a systematic bibliographic review, in which only the double-blind placebo-controlled studies or the clinically detailed enough open-labelled studies using validated scales were retained. RESULTS: Among these medications, only carbamazepine demonstrated its efficacy in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in controlled studies, notably that of Tariot et al. [J Am Geriatr Soc 42 (1994) 1160-1166 and Am J Psychiatry 155 (1998) 54-61] and Olin et al. [Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 9 (2001) 400-405], but with significant adverse events (sedation, hyponatremia, cardiac toxicity), particularly in the elderly and, being a strong enzymatic inducer, with a high likelihood of drug-drug interactions. Valproic acid showed some interesting results in BPSD within a large number of open studies and case reports. However, among the five controlled studies that have been published [Curr Ther Res 62 (2001) 51-67; Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 9 (2001) 58-66; Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 17 (2002) 579-585; Curr Alzheimer Res 2 (2005) 553-558 and Am J Geraitr Psychiatry 13 (2005) 942-945], none confirmed its efficacy on these symptoms. Regarding its tolerability in the geriatric population, no notable major side effect was reported (haematologic and hepatic effects are not more frequent than in the general population), except possible excessive sedation. Moreover, it appears that valproic acid could have neuroprotective effects, even if the contrary has been observed in a recent study. More studies need to be (and are being) conducted, notably on the interest of valproic acid in prophylaxis of BPSD. Gabapentin seems to be worthwhile and well tolerated in this indication, but no controlled study has been conducted to prove its efficacy, even if a quite important number of case reports and open studies have shown encouraging results. Concerning lamotrigine, which may potentially induce severe cutaneous side effects when administered with valproic acid, this drug has shown its efficacy in bipolar disorders and two recent case reports seem to indicate some interest in BPSD. Furthermore, lamotrigine appears to have neuroprotective effects. Although topiramate has shown interesting results in one open study in BPSD, its use in demented patients cannot be recommended because of its deleterious effect on cognitive functions. Oxcarbazepine, theoretically, could be an alternative to carbamazepine, which is, as aforesaid, the only anticonvulsant that proved its interest in BPSD. However, no clinical study has yet been published to support this hypothesis. This drug is better tolerated than carbamazepine, but induces severe and more frequent hyponatremia. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Finally, although we all know that antipsychotics should no longer be prescribed in the elderly, the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia remains a difficult problem, considering the lack of a real alternative to these medications. Anticonvulsant mood stabilizers are an interesting solution but none of them, other than carbamazepine, which did, but which is not better tolerated than the usual drugs in this population - was able to prove its efficacy in this indication. Among these medications, valproic acid, gabapentin and lamotrigine should be studied further, and the neuroprotective effect of some of them is an interesting route for research."

Anticonvulsant mood stabilizers in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)

Preventing Bipolar I Relapse: Results of the BALANCE Trial

Preventing Bipolar I Relapse: Results of the BALANCE Trial

Relapse rates were high overall, but better with lithium–valproate combination or lithium monotherapy than with valproate monotherapy.

Most treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder list lithium and valproate as first-line mood stabilizers, although lithium prescriptions have declined recently. In a randomized, open-label, multisite, international, 2-year trial, researchers compared the effectiveness of lithium, valproate, and their combination in preventing relapse.

First, 459 nonacutely ill patients with bipolar I disorder (74% without history of mood-stabilizer maintenance) received the combination at minimally effective doses (typically, for 4–8 weeks). The 330 participants who tolerated combination treatment were then randomized to continue the combination or to receive either monotherapy (the other drug was gradually withdrawn). Treatment groups were balanced for multiple illness characteristics.

Drug adherence was good, and follow-up covered 589.8 person-years. Relapse, defined as intervention for a new mood episode, occurred in 54% of combination-treatment recipients, 59% of lithium recipients, and 69% of valproate recipients. Combination treatment and lithium were statistically similar to each other in efficacy and superior to valproate. Combination therapy appeared most effective in preventing manic episodes and lithium in preventing depressive episodes. Results were not affected by baseline severity, polarity of the most recent episode, drug doses, blood levels, or when events in the first 3 months were excluded.

Comment: This study suggests that the most effective agents for preventing relapse are lithium–valproate combination and lithium monotherapy (numbers needed to treat, 7 and 10, compared with valproate alone). However, the high relapse rates suggest a serious need for new treatments.

Study limitations include the open treatment allocation, and the absence of both a placebo group and a systematic assessment of symptoms. Its strengths are its real-world design, diverse patient population, presence of a clinical endpoint (i.e., need for treatment change), and enrollment of patients who tolerated both drugs (in contrast to some previous studies).

Lithium is often underused. Its use may have declined because of clinicians' concerns about thyroid and renal effects, their reluctance to do the necessary monitoring, or the vigorous marketing of valproate. These results clarify that more patients should be given lithium, probably alone initially and then in combination with valproate.

— Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Published in Journal Watch Psychiatry January 11, 2010

Citation(s):

Geddes JR et al. for the BALANCE Investigators and Collaborators. Lithium plus valproate combination therapy versus monotherapy for relapse prevention in bipolar I disorder (BALANCE): A randomised open-label trial. Lancet 2009 Dec 23; [e-pub ahead of print]. (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2809%2961828-6/fulltext)

http://psychiatry.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2010/111/1

Комбинирование клозапина с ламотриджином

Schizophrenia patients routinely are treated with polypharmacy--often with antidepressants or anticonvulsants--in attempts to improve negative symptoms, aggression, and impulsivity. Most adjuncts, however--including divalproex, antidepressants, and lithium--have shown very small, inconsistent, or no effects. The only agent with a recent meta-analysis supporting its use as augmentation in treatment-resistant schizophrenia is lamotrigine, an anticonvulsant approved for use in epilepsy...

Clozapine Augmentation with Lamotrigine

эндокринные эффекты нормотимиков

Both seizures and antiepileptic drugs may induce disturbances in hormonal system. Regarding endocrine effects of anticonvulsants, an interaction of these drugs with gonadal, thyroid, and adrenal axis deserves attention. Since majority of antiepileptic drugs block voltage dependent sodium and calcium channels, enhance GABAergic transmission and/or antagonize glutamate receptors, one may expect that similar neurochemical mechanisms are engaged in the interaction of these drugs with synthesis of hypothalamic neurohormones such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). Moreover some antiepileptic drugs may affect hormone metabolism via inhibiting or stimulating cytochrome P-450 iso-enzymes. An influence of antiepileptic drugs on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis appears to be sex-dependent. In males, valproate decreased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) but elevated dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations. Carbamazepine decreased testosterone/sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) ratio, whereas its active metabolite--oxcarbazepine--had no effect on androgens. In females, valproate decreased FSH-stimulated estradiol release and enhanced testosterone level. On the other hand, carbamazepine decreased testosterone level but enhanced SHBG concentration. It has been reported that carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine or joined administration of carbamazepine and valproate decrease thyroxine (T4) level in patients with no effect on thyrotropin (TSH). While valproate itself has no effect on T4, phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone, as metabolic enzyme inducers, can decrease the level of free and bound thyroxine. On the other hand, new antiepileptics such as levetiracetam, tiagabine, vigabatrine or lamotrigine had no effect on thyroid hormones. With respect to hormonal regulation of metabolic processes, valproate was reported to enhance leptin and insulin blood level and increased body weight, whereas topiramate showed an opposite effect. In contrast to thyroid and gonadal hormones, only a few data concern antiepileptic drug action in HPA axis. To this end, no effect of antiepileptic drugs on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/cortisol circadian rhytmicity was found. Valproate decreased CRH release in rats, whereas lamotrigine stabilized ACTH/cortisol secretion. Moreover, felbamate was found to inhibit stress-induced corticosterone release in mice. Interestingly, recent data suggest that felbamat and some other new antiepileptic drugs may inhibit transcriptional activity of glucocorticoid receptors. Summing up, the above data suggest that traditional antiepileptic drugs may cause endocrine disturbances, especially in gonadal hormones.
Endocrine effects of antiepileptic drugs

+ Effects of antiepileptic drugs on immune system

Evaluating the Incidence of Leukopenia and Neutropenia with Valproate, Quetiapine, or the Combination in Children and Adolescents

Analysis of the laboratory data revealed a combined incidence of neutropenia and/or leukopenia of 44%, 26%, and 6% in the combination group, valproate monotherapy group, and quetiapine monotherapy group, respectively.