Lamotrigine in bipolar depression. A randomised placebo-controlled trial on the acute and long-term outcome of lamotrigine as add-on to lithium with the possibility of the addition of paroxetine

PhD ceremony: Mr. M.L.M. van der Loos, 11.00 uur, Aula Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Lamotrigine in bipolar depression. A randomised placebo-controlled trial on the acute and long-term outcome of lamotrigine as add-on to lithium with the possibility of the addition of paroxetine

Promotor(s): prof. W.A. Nolen

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Patients with bipolar disease (also known as manic depression) who are treated with lithium, may benefit from the addition of the antiepileptic drug lamotrigine during the depressive stage of their disease. Van der Loos performed a randomised controlled clinical trial in which he compared the addition of lamotrigine with placebo as add-on to lithium. The outcomes of patients using lamotrigine were significantly better than for those on placebo. Patients who did not respond to treatment received paroxetine after 8 weeks. Both groups improved further, but after 16 weeks the results were not statistically different anymore. Also during the long-term phase of the study, the differences between responders on study treatment and placebo remained stable.