Maintenance clinical trials in bipolar disorders: Design implications of the divalproex-lithium-placebo study

Charles L. Bowden, Alan C. Swann, Joseph R. Calabrese, Susan L. McElroy, David Morris, Frederick Petty, Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, Laszlo Gyulai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Maintenance studies in bipolar disorder have received increased attention in recent years. The interest is driven by apparent contradictions between results of early placebo-controlled trials of lithium and recent open studies, as well as interest in a new group of drugs with mood-stabilizing properties. The multiple outcome indices that require attention in prophylactic bipolar disorder studies add a dimension not present in acute studies of bipolar disorder. We present the methodology of a recently completed randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, parallel-group comparison of divalproex and lithium. We examine the consequences of salient design features, along with their implications for future studies. A fundamental conclusion is that such maintenance studies should be designed and executed to emphasize enrollment of patients with relatively active, severe forms of the illness. This goals is not achieved simply, as inherent features of long-term, placebo-controlled studies drive recruitment and enrollment in the direction of patients with milder forms of bipolar disorder. Attention to the frequency of both manic and depressive episodes and the severity of an index manic episode may aid in the selection of patients most suitable for studies designed to achieve adequate statistical power.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)693-699
Number of pages7
JournalPsychopharmacology bulletin
Volume33
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1997

Keywords

  • Bipolar disorder
  • Divalproex
  • Lithium
  • Valproate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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