A study of efficacy of depakin combined with lithium carbonate in the treatment of manic episode of bipolar disorder

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of depakin combined with lithium carbonate in treating manic episodes of bipolar disorder.Methods 74 patients were ramdomly divided into two groups,depakin combined with lithium carbonate group(group A)(n=37)or lithium carbonate group(group B)(n=37).They were treated for 8 weeks.The patients were evaluated with the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale and and TESS before treatment and on 1st,2nd,4th and 8th weekend after treatment.Results The clinical response rates were 83.8% in group A and 81.1% in group B.There was no significant difference between two groups(χ2=0.093,P0.05).There was significantly lower rate of side effects in group A(8.1%)than that in group B(29.7%)(χ2=5.638,P0.05).Conclusion Depakin combined with lithium carbonate has similar therapeutic effect to lithium carbonate alone in the treatment of manic episodes,and has better tolerability.