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Prophylactic effect of phenytoin in bipolar disorder: a controlled study
Author(s) -
Mishory A,
Winokur M,
Bersudsky Y
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1046/j.1399-5618.2003.00070.x
Subject(s) - phenytoin , anticonvulsant , placebo , medicine , anesthesia , prophylactic treatment , clinical trial , epilepsy , pediatrics , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective: Phenytoin is an effective anticonvulsant that has not previously been studied prophylactically in bipolar (BP) patients. Thus a study of phenytoin prophylaxis was undertaken and is herein reported. Method: Bipolar patients were studied who had at least one episode per year in the previous 2 years despite ongoing prophylaxis. Patients were stable for a mean of 4 months (range 1–13) before entering the study. Phenytoin or placebo was added to their current therapy in a double‐blind cross‐over design for 6 months in each phase. Thirty observation periods of 6 months each were studied for 23 patients. Results: Three patients had relapse on phenytoin and nine had relapse on placebo. There was a significant prophylactic effect of phenytoin in BP disorder [Cox's F ‐test for comparing survival in two groups: F (6, 18) = 3.44, p = 0.02]. Conclusions: This study suggests prophylactic effects of add‐on phenytoin in BP illness. However, the number of patients was small and confirmation is necessary.