A placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of lamotrigine in depersonalization disorder

J Psychopharmacol. 2003 Mar;17(1):103-5. doi: 10.1177/0269881103017001712.

Abstract

There is evidence to support the view that glutamate hyperactivity might be relevant to the neurobiology of depersonalization. We tested the efficacy of lamotrigine, which reduces glutamate release, as a treatment for patients with depersonalization disorder. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design was used to evaluate 12 weeks of treatment of lamotrigine. Subjects comprised nine patients with DSM-IV depersonalization disorder. Changes on the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale and the Present State Examination depersonalization/derealization items were compared across the two cross-over periods. Lamotrigine was not significantly superior to placebo. None of the nine patients was deemed a responder to the lamotrigine arm of the cross-over. Lamotrigine does not seem to be useful as a sole medication in the treatment of depersonalization disorder.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antidepressive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents / blood
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Depersonalization / drug therapy*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Lamotrigine
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazines / administration & dosage*
  • Triazines / adverse effects
  • Triazines / blood

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Triazines
  • Lamotrigine