[Efficacy of gabapentin in a sample of bipolar patients]

Field studies support the idea of gabapentin being helpful in the maintenance, and in the treatment of some symptoms in bipolar patients. Our study evaluates relapse rates previous and after gabapentin administration in severe bipolar patients.

Gapabentine was administered to all consecutive bipolar patients from a relapse prevention program who could not be given lithium, valproic acid or carbamacepin because of his current medical condition or his past history of secondary effects or lack of response to those treatments. Number and severity of relapses were evaluated before and after gabapentin administration.

Seven patients were included in the study. Medium maintenance period with gabapentine was 9 months. In the gabapentin period, relapses per month increased from 0.18 in the previous three years to 0.29. This may be due because six patients interrupted abruptly previous treatment in less than 1 week. Relapses severity, evaluated by measuring length and number of hospitalisations, and number of interviews by month, was similar to the three previous years, and better than the period from the beginning of the condition. Clinical Global Impression evaluated gabapentin as similar to previous mood stabilizers in five patients and better in two. Irritability and dysphoria improved in all the patients.

Although gabapentin may be helpful in some patients, a clinical essay that shows its efficacy as add-on treatment is need.