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Lithium and carbamazepine in bipolar disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

P. Moleman*
Affiliation:
Institute for Clinical Psychiatric Research's Gravenhage Moleman Research, Consultants on Human Psychopharmacology, Amerongen, The Netherlands
E.G.Th.M. Hartong
Affiliation:
Institute for Clinical Psychiatric Research's Gravenhage
C.A.L. Hoogduin
Affiliation:
Institute for Clinical Psychiatric Research's Gravenhage Dept. of Clinical Psychology, K.U. Nijmegen
T.G. Broekman
Affiliation:
Bureau Beta, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
W.A. Nolen
Affiliation:
Institute for Clinical Psychiatric Research's Gravenhage Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht and Altrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
Moleman Research BV, Burg. Jhr. H. van den Boschstraat 11, 3958 CA Amerongen, The Netherlands

Abstract

Lithium is considered first choice in the prevention of prospective episodes in patients with bipolar disorder. However, efficacy is not satisfactory in all patients and side effects sometimes prevent the use of lithium. It is argued that efficacy in clinical practice may be less impressive than anticipated from clinical trials, and alternative treatments are beinu advocated increasingly for that reason, such as the anticonvulsants, carbamazepine and valproate.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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