Carbamazepine in treatment and prophylaxis of manic-depressive disorder

The review presents 23 studies on the action of carbamazepine (CZP) in manic-depressive disorder, some of these studies being double-blind investigations, others open investigations and some anecdotal reports. Surveys of therapeutic as well as prophylactic effects in manias and depressions are presented. There seems to be a definite antimanic and a less expressed but indubitable antidepressant therapeutic effect of CZP, and a considerable prophylactic effect in mania as well as depression, an effect which is possibly a little less than that of lithium. It must, however, be stressed that this conclusion is based on a number of different and heterogeneous studies which have been combined. In addition 5 cases are presented concerning rapid cycling cases with early onset of the disorder and without response to or bad compliance with lithium. In spite of the clinical similarity of these cases the effect of CZP was good in 3 and poor in 2 of the 5 cases presented.