Cognitive functioning in bipolar patients receiving lamotrigine: preliminary results

J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Apr;26(2):178-81. doi: 10.1097/01.jcp.0000204332.64390.f3.

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of lamotrigine (LTG) in bipolar disorder, little is known about its impact on cognition in bipolar patients. Therefore, we have evaluated 33 bipolar I and II patients on cognitive measures (verbal memory, attention, executive functions) while receiving either LTG (n = 15) or another anticonvulsant (carbamazepine or valproate; n = 18). Patients receiving LTG were generally diagnosed as having bipolar II disorder, had experienced more depressive episodes but a lesser number of hospitalizations, and had better performance than the patients receiving carbamazepine or valproate on the verbal fluency task. A moderate effect size also suggests that both groups may differ on the immediate verbal memory test (California Verbal Learning Test). These preliminary results suggest a safer neurocognitive profile of LTG on bipolar patients, as compared with other anticonvulsants.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Carbamazepine / administration & dosage
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lamotrigine
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / drug effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazines / administration & dosage
  • Triazines / therapeutic use*
  • Valproic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Valproic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Verbal Behavior / drug effects

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Triazines
  • Carbamazepine
  • Valproic Acid
  • Lamotrigine