Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
04:29
Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
29.9K
Gabapentin Therapy in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review
Rachel K Berlin1, Paul M Butler2, Michael D Perloff3
1Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders
|February 3, 2016
Summary
Gabapentin shows potential for anxiety and substance use disorders, particularly alcohol craving and opioid dependence. However, evidence for its use in bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, and OCD remains limited, necessitating further research.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Gabapentin is frequently prescribed off-label for psychiatric conditions.
- Its efficacy in treating various mental health disorders is debated, with mixed results reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing literature on the clinical benefits of gabapentin in psychiatric disorders.
- To elucidate the evidence supporting gabapentin's use in conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance use disorders.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE from 1983 to 2014.
- Keywords included specific psychiatric conditions and "gabapentin" or "neurontin"; abstracts were screened, and relevant studies with quality evidence (level II-2 or higher) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Gabapentin may benefit certain anxiety disorders but lacks evidence for generalized anxiety disorder.
- Efficacy is clearer for alcohol craving and withdrawal symptoms, with potential adjunctive use in opioid dependence.
- Limited evidence supports gabapentin for bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD prevention, OCD, or other substance abuse.
Conclusions:
- Further research is essential to definitively establish the clinical benefits of gabapentin in psychiatric disorders.
- Variations in study design, dosing, and outcome measures present limitations in current data.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
662
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
662
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
1.6K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.6K
01:28Drug Therapy
392
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
392
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
1.2K
Antipsychotic drugs are classified into first-generation (typical) drugs including phenothiazines; and second-generation (atypical) drugs. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine), a phenothiazine derivative, broadly impacts the central, autonomic, and endocrine systems. This drug, along with typical agents like haloperidol (Haldol), primarily works by antagonizing D2 receptors, thus reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, typical antipsychotics can cause side effects such as sedation...
1.2K
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
2.0K
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...
2.0K
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
1.1K
Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
1.1K