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Gabapentin as an adjunctive treatment in bipolar disorder
L T Young1, J C Robb, G M Hasey
1Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. youngt@fhs.mcmaster.ca
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar disorder in both depressed and manic phases.
Method:
Thirty seven patients with bipolar type I or II with or without a rapid cycling course were openly treated with gabapentin added to current treatment for up to six months. Mood symptoms were rated weekly for 12 weeks then monthly for 3 months utilizing the HamD and YMS.
Results:
Participants experienced a significant reduction in both depressive and manic symptoms.
Conclusions:
These findings are consistent with others in establishing the efficacy of gabapentin in both phases of bipolar disorder.
Limitations:
Small sample size and the use of an open uncontrolled design limit interpretation of results.