Oxcarbazepine vs. valproate in the treatment of mood and schizoaffective disorders

• Published in: The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 409 - 414
• Main Authors: Raja, Michele, Azzoni, Antonella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-12-2003; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Akathisia, Drug-Induced - diagnosis; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Antimanic Agents - adverse effects; Antimanic Agents - therapeutic use; Bipolar Disorder - diagnosis; Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; Brief Reports; Carbamazepine - adverse effects; Carbamazepine - analogs & derivatives; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurologic Examination - drug effects; Personality Inventory; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - drug therapy; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Treatment Outcome; Valproic Acid - adverse effects; Valproic Acid - therapeutic use; treatment; valproate; Bipolar disorder; oxcarbazepine; schizoaffective disorder
• ISSN: 1461-1457; 1469-5111
• DOI: 10.1017/S1461145703003754

To compare the efficacy of oxcarbazepine (OXC) and valproate (VPA) in the treatment of mood and schizoaffective disorders, we retrospectively analysed data regarding 27 in-patients with mood or schizoaffective diagnosis treated with OXC (and other psychoactive drugs except VPA) and 27 matched in-patients treated with VPA (and other psychoactive drugs except OXC), in a psychiatric intensive care unit of a general hospital. In the evaluation of the outcome, we considered the length of hospitalization, the changes in the scores of BPRS, SAPS, SANS, MMSE, CGI, GAF, UPDRS, BAS, and Morrison's scale. The assessment of global psychopathology and functioning, of positive and mood symptoms suggested similar efficacy of OXC and VPA. Unexpectedly, OXC appeared more efficacious in the treatment of negative symptoms.