The role of mood stabilisers in the treatment of the depressive facet of bipolar disorders

It was previously shown that available mood stabilisers are used to treat bipolar depression. As part of the natural course of illness, patients with bipolar disorder often suffer from episodes of depression more frequently and for longer durations than mania. A major challenge in the treatment of bipolar depression is the tendency for antidepressant medications, particularly tricyclic antidepressants, to precipitate episodes of mania, or to increase cycle frequency or symptom intensity. Thus, exploring the utility of mood stabilisers as monotherapy for bipolar depression is important. The aim of this review it to collate data involving the effects of some mood stabilisers like lithium, carbamazepine, valproate and lamotrigine in depressive aspects of bipolar disorder, but as well using an animal model of depression, to understand their mechanism of action. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.