Abstract
In a randomised multicentre study, the prophylactic efficacy of lithium and carbamazepine was compared in schizoaffective disorder. A total of 90 ICD-9 schizoaffective patients were included in the maintenance phase (2.5 years). They were also diagnosed according to RDC and DSM-III-R and classified into subgroups. Mean serum levels were 0.58±0.12 mmol/l for lithium and 6.4±1.5 μg/ml for carbamazepine (mean dose 643±179 mg/d). Outcome criteria were hospitalisation, recurrence, concomitant psychotropic medication and adverse effects leading to discontinuation. There were more non-completers under carbamazepine than under lithium (p=0.02). Survival analyses demonstrated no significant differences between lithium and carbamazepine in treatment outcome. Patient’s ratings of side effects (p=0.003) and treatment satisfaction (p=0.02) favoured carbamazepine. Following the RDC criteria, patients of the schizodepressive and non-classifiable type did better under carbamazepine (p=0.055 for recurrence), whereas in the schizomanic patients equipotency of both drugs was found. Applying DSM-III-R, carbamazepine demonstrated a superiority in the patient group with more schizophrenia-like or depressive disorders (p=0.040 for recurrence), but not in patients fulfilling the DSM-III-R criteria of bipolar disorder. Lithium and carbamazepine seem to be equipotent alternatives in the maintenance treatment of broadly defined schizoaffective disorders. However, in subgroups with depressive or schizophrenia-like features and regarding its long-term tolerability carbamazepine seems to be superior.
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Greil, W., Ludwig-Mayerhofer, W., Erazo, N. et al. Lithium vs carbamazepine in the maintenance treatment of schizoaffective disorder: a randomised study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Nuerosci 247, 42–50 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02916252
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02916252