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Comparison of Carbamazepine and Lithium in the Prophylaxis of Bipolar Disorders

A Meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. Dardennes ,
C. Even ,
F. Bange  and
A. Heim
R. Dardennes*
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies mentales et de l'encéphale, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris
C. Even
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies mentales et de l'encéphale, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris
F. Bange
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies mentales et de l'encéphale, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris
A. Heim
Affiliation:
Clinique des maladies mentales et de l'encéphale, Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris
*
Dr Dardennes, CMME, Hôpital Sainte Anne, 1 rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
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Abstract

Background

This meta-analysis assessed the equipotency of carbamazepine and lithium prophylaxis in bipolar disorder.

Method

We selected only randomised, double-blind, controlled studies comparing carbamazepine with lithium from a manual and computerised search, and subjected them to a quality inventory. Their statistical results were weighted by their quality score and combined. Results. Four studies met our criteria, yielding, overall, P = 0.15. This result is not straightforward because the studies showed significant heterogeneity (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Differences in statistical power and sensitivity of outcome measure explain this heterogeneity and the conflicting results of the studies. Therefore, the prophylactic efficacy of carbamazepine remains questionable.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 166 , Issue 3 , March 1995 , pp. 378 - 381
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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