THE ROLE OF CARBAMAZEPINE IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION

The prophylaxis of unipolar depression is still a controversial subject. Some authors prefer lithium, others maintenance treatment with antidepressants. The role of carbamazepine remains unclear. Few patients have been described in the literature, and most are lithium nonresponders or rapid cyclers. In an open-label naturalistic study, 15 patients suffering from unipolar depression (DSM-III, 296.2, 296.3) and receiving long-term prophylaxis with carbamazepine were followed for 5 years. Four had been pretreated with lithium without satisfactory effects, 11 were prophylaxis naive. The mean time span patients received carbamazepine was 49.5 months. 73% of the patients gained substantial profit from carbamazepine. Side effects were infrequent.