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Divalproex therapy in medication-naive and mood-stabilizer-naive bipolar II depression
M E Winsberg1, S G DeGolia, C M Strong
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Room 2124, Stanford, CA 94305-5723, USA.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|March 1, 2002
Summary
Divalproex sodium (DVPX) monotherapy, taken once daily, showed significant antidepressant effects in 63% of bipolar II depression patients. Medication-naive patients experienced higher response rates, suggesting DVPX as a potential first-line treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Limited systematic research exists on treating bipolar II depression.
- Divalproex sodium (DVPX) is established for mania but its antidepressant efficacy is less studied.
- Data on single daily dose DVPX for bipolar II depression are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of DVPX monotherapy in bipolar II depressed outpatients.
- To assess the effects of a single daily dose regimen of DVPX.
- To compare outcomes in medication-naive versus mood stabilizer-naive patients.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week open-label trial involving 19 bipolar II depressed outpatients.
- DVPX monotherapy administered as a single nightly dose, titrated to symptom relief or adverse events.
- Weekly assessments using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression.
Main Results:
- DVPX was generally well-tolerated, with 63% of patients achieving a response.
- Significant reductions in Hamilton Depression scores were observed across all patients.
- Medication-naive patients showed a trend towards higher response rates (82%) compared to mood stabilizer-naive patients (38%).
Conclusions:
- Single daily dose DVPX monotherapy appears well-tolerated and effective for a majority of bipolar II depression patients.
- The observed trend in medication-naive patients warrants further investigation.
- Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm DVPX as a potential first-line monotherapy for bipolar II depression.