Objective: Gabapentin (GBP) is a new anticonvulsant drug that has shown efficacy in the treatment of epilepsy, several neurological disorders (pain syndromes, acquired nystagmus, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and more recently in the treatment of bipolar disorders. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the efficacy of GBP as a mood stabiliser in bipolar disorders. The adverse events of GBP were also evaluated.
Patients And Methods: 21 outpatients, 13 females and 8 males (mean age ± SD: 51.90 ± 11.51 years) affected by bipolar disorder (BD), in partial remission (DSM IV) and intolerant to lithium, were treated with GBP at a dose ranging from 300 to 2400 mg/day (mean ± SD: 1010.86 ± 268.55mg; 13.81 ± 4.21 mg/kg) for 1 year. Clinical assessments were performed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRS-D), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRS-A) and the Manic Rating Scale (MRS) at baseline (T0), after 15 days (T0.5), after 30 days (T1), and then every month for 12 months.
Results: Mean HRS-D, HRS-A and MRS scores did not show any significant variation during the study. Only one patient showed a clinical relapse. The most frequent adverse events reported by patients were dizziness (1%), dry mouth (1%) and sedation (0.5%). There was a significant negative correlation between GBP dosage (mg/kg) and HRS-A score. Mean leucocyte and neutrophil counts showed a significant increase during the study.
Conclusions: These preliminary data show potential efficacy and good tolerability of GBP in the prophylaxis of BD, but double-blind studies are required.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200121030-00002 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Long-Term Moderating Effect of Resilience Capacity on the Impact of Stressful Life Events on Depressive Symptoms After 6 Years in Outpatients With Depression and/or Anxiety.
J Nerv Ment Dis
January 2025
Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Previous cross-sectional studies have utilized scales to explore potential indications of the moderating effect of resilience on the relationship between stressful life events (SLEs) and mental health. However, there remains a notable dearth of psychometrically driven models in longitudinal resilience research, especially concerning the prognosis of individuals with affective disorders and/or anxiety. This study aimed to investigate whether baseline resilience capacity, measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, could mitigate the impact of SLEs on depressive symptoms assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II among 66 outpatients with depression and/or anxiety disorders during a follow-up period ranging from 4-8 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Association Between Change in Symptom Severity and Personal Recovery in Patients With Severe Mental Illness.
J Nerv Ment Dis
January 2025
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
This study examined the relationship between change in symptom severity and personal recovery in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). Forty-nine outpatients at Mentrum/Arkin, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, were assessed at baseline and 3 years later, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Mental Health Recovery Measure. Correlation coefficients and linear regression analyses were used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeasuring Residents' Competence in Chest Tube Insertion on Thiel-Embalmed Bodies: A Validity Study.
Simul Healthc
December 2024
From the Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium (L.D.M., I.V.H., L.D., W.W.); Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium (I.V.H., L.D.); Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium (P.V.d.V.); Department of Emergency Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium (P.V.d.V.); Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium (H.V., W.W.); Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (L.K.); and Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), Copenhagen, Denmark (L.K.).
Introduction: Chest tube insertions (CTIs) have a high complication rate, prompting the training of technical skills in simulated settings. However, assessment tools require validity evidence prior to their implementation. This study aimed to collect validity evidence for assessment of technical skills in CTI on Thiel-embalmed human bodies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncidence and influential factors of postoperative pruritus in morphine-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.
J Chin Med Assoc
October 2024
Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
Background: Pruritus is a distressing symptom of systemic opioid analgesia that responds poorly to conventional antipruritus treatments. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for postoperative pruritus using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA).
Methods: Opioid-naïve patients who underwent morphine-based IV-PCA for postoperative pain at a tertiary center between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2023, were included retrospectively.
Optimizing Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia for Cancer Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Adjusted Background Infusion Rates.
JCO Oncol Pract
January 2025
Division of Medical Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Purpose: Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been considered for managing cancer pain; however, limited research has been conducted on optimizing continuous infusion rates with PCA. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a method that optimizes background infusion (BI) alongside PCA for titrating intravenous (IV) morphine in managing cancer-related pain.
Methods: Forty-four patients with solid tumors who could not manage pain with oral or transdermal opioid analgesics were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive IV morphine through PCA or the conventional method.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!