Abstract
Bipolar I, manic phase inpatients were treated with divalproex sodium, lithium, or placebo in a previously reported parallel group multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled acute phase treatment trial, Plasma concentrations of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured before and after treatment. Higher pretreatment plasma GABA levels were significantly (p = .04) related to a better clinical response to divalproex (n = 19). Pretreatment plasma GABA levels did not correlate with response to either lithium (n = 13) or placebo (n = 31). Following treatment with divalproex sodium, plasma GABA levels decreased significantly (p <.05), compared to placebo. Pretreatment plasma GABA levels were not related to overall severity of manic symptoms. Plasma GABA may predict response to pharmacologic agents acting on the GABA system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 278-284 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 15 1996 |
Keywords
- Bipolar disorder
- Divalproex
- GABA
- Lithium
- Mania
- Response prediction
- Valproic acid
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biological Psychiatry