Predictors of lithium therapeutic response in mania

Fourty patients diagnosed as Mania according to the criteria of ICD-10 were subjected to full Clinical psychiatric examination and psychometric assessment using Manic Rating Scale and Scale for Affective Disorder [SAD] derived from schedule for affective disorder and schizophrenia [SADS]. Investigations were done at the Start of lithium therapy and every week for one month, the dose of lithium was adjusted according to plasma level using flame emission photometer positive family history of affective .disorders was found to predict good outcome, while older age, previous depression, younger age of onset, paranoid features and formal thought disorders were found to predict poor outcome

Carbamazepine in the treatment of mania

This study was conducted on 44 manic patients diagnosed according to the criteria of ICD 10 and randomly assigned into two groups, carbamazepine treated group [N=24] and Haloperidol treated group [N = 20]. Treatment response was measured objectively by using Beigel Manic Rating Scale and Scale for Affective Disorders [SAD]. Beck depression inventory was used to evaluate outcome and detect development of depression after therapy. Carbamazepine has demonestrated substantial effectiveness in 50% of manic patients. Therapeutic remission occured mostly within 8 weeks after initiation of therapy. If after 3-4 weeks in the high therapeutic range a patient fails to respond, alternative therapeutic measures should be considered. Carbamazepjne induced therapeutic response rates nearly comparable to those induced by haloperidol, however, it showed rather more rapid action, better tolerability, less side effects and less risk for development of depression