The efficacy of lamotrigine in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To provide up-to-date clinical guidance on the efficacy of lamotrigine in bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Eligible studies were identified during a systematic literature search according to PRISMA-guidelines. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that quantitatively assessed lamotrigine's efficacy in BD. We divided the included studies into three groups: 1. acute treatment of depression, 2. acute treatment of mania and hypomania, and 3. maintenance treatment. Analyses were stratified by control group (placebo vs active comparator) and treatment strategy (monotherapy vs add-on treatment). RESULTS: We included 20 RCTs (n = 1166 lamotrigine users) and 20 cohort studies (n = 11,141 lamotrigine users). Twenty-four of these studies were included in meta-analyses. During depressive episodes, greater decreases in depressive symptomatology were associated with initiation of lamotrigine as add-on treatment than with placebo (SMD -0.30 [95% CI = -0.51, -0.10], df = 3, p = 0.004). Decreases in depressive symptomatology did not differ significantly between lamotrigine and the active comparator (SMD -0.28 [95% CI = -1.06, 0.50], df = 3, p = 0.488). As a maintenance treatment, lamotrigine was associated with a significantly lower relapse/recurrence rate than placebo (risk ratio (RR) 0.84 [95% CI = 0.71, 0.99], df = 2, p = 0.037). Relapse/recurrence rates did not differ significantly between lamotrigine and lithium (RR 1.06 [95% CI = 0.89, 1.25], df = 2, p = 0.513). A qualitative assessment of high-quality register-based studies found that lamotrigine was associated with lower hospital admission rates than other commonly used treatment regimes. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial evidence for the efficacy of lamotrigine in BD, specifically as add-on treatment during acute depressive episodes and as maintenance treatment for preventing relapse and recurrence.

[Postpartum psychosis in clinical practice: diagnostic considerations, treatment and prevention]. / Postpartumpsychose in de klinische praktijk: diagnostiek, behandeling en preventie.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum psychosis is a severe psychiatric disease which occurs in the early postpartum period after 1 - 2 per 1000 deliveries. Patients with a history of postpartum psychosis and/or bipolar disorder are at extreme high risk of relapse postpartum. AIM: To discuss diagnostic considerations, treatment and the prevention of postpartum psychosis, and to give clinical recommendations. METHOD: Literature search with PubMed and relevant textbooks. RESULTS: Inpatient psychiatric admission enables the clinician to ensure the safety of mother and baby, perform physical and neurological examination, and laboratory analysis to exclude known organic causes for acute psychosis. Antipsychotic and lithium and ECT are effective treatment options. Women with postpartum psychosis compared to those with bipolar disorder had a substantial difference in their clinical outcomes and prophylaxis requirements. CONCLUSION: Inpatient screening for somatic (co)morbidity is essential in patients with postpartum psychosis. With adequate treatment, almost all patients achieve complete remission and the prognosis is optimistic. Initiation of prophylaxis immediately postpartum in women with a history of postpartum psychosis with lithium was highly effective for preventing postpartum relapse.