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Verapamil versus lithium in acute mania.
E S Garza-Treviño1, J E Overall, L E Hollister
1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Verapamil and lithium both significantly improved symptoms in acutely manic patients. This double-blind trial found no major differences in effectiveness between the two treatments for mania.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Bipolar disorder, manic episodes, require effective treatments.
- Lithium is a common treatment for mania.
- Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, is being investigated for its potential in treating mania.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of verapamil and lithium in treating acute manic episodes.
- To evaluate treatment response using standardized psychiatric rating scales.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized trial was conducted.
- Twenty acutely manic patients were enrolled.
- Patients received either verapamil or lithium for 4 weeks, with assessments using the Petterson Mania Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI).
Main Results:
- Both verapamil and lithium groups showed significant improvement in manic symptoms.
- No statistically significant differences in treatment outcomes were observed between the verapamil and lithium groups.
- Symptom severity was assessed weekly over the 4-week treatment period.
Conclusions:
- Verapamil appears to be a viable alternative to lithium for acute mania treatment.
- Further research may explore long-term efficacy and side effect profiles.
- The findings support exploring non-traditional treatments for bipolar mania.