Abstract

COMPARING THE RESPONSE SPEED TO SODIUM VALPROATE IN THE TREATMENT OF MANIC EPISODE OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM BIPOLAR I DISORDER WITH PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS BY RAPID ORAL LOADING AND SLOW TITRATION METHODS

Pantea Faridnia, Azad Matari, Seyed Sepehr Hashemian, Morteza Khajavi, Enayat Bakhshi and *Arash Mirabzade

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the importance of bipolar disorder in terms of risks to patients and society, faster and safer improvement of the acute phase of bipolar is asked by all therapists. In this study the clinical response speed in patients with bipolar I disorder with psychotic symptoms by prescription of oral loading of sodium valproate are compared to gradual titration method. Materials and methods: 44 patients with acute mania based on DSMIV that their severity of mania was between 20 and 50 based on the Young Mania Rating Scale, were placed randomly in controlled double-blind trial in two equal groups. In a group, sodium valproate 20 mg / kg is started from the beginning and has continued to seventh day (loading group), and the other group start with 10 mg / kg drug and gradually increased by standard method of titration until reach to 20 mg / kg in the sixth day. The two groups also were matched in terms of gender and mood (elation and irritability). Severity of manic symptoms was measured before the treatment, third day, fifth day and seventh day by Young Mania Rating Scale. Results: Men and women at the speed of effectiveness of the drug. There was no Significant and visible difference between the two mood (elevated and irritable) in terms of speed of clinical effectiveness. Between the two groups with administration of sodium valproate loading and gradual titration was no significant difference in terms of the side effects. Speed of symptoms reduction in loading group was significantly higher than gradual titration group in the first three days and third to fifth day and fifth to seventh day. Discussion: Oral loading sodium valproate, is effective and safe method for faster reduction of clinical symptoms of patients with manic episode.

Keywords: Acute mania, DSM-V, Sodium valproate, Young Mania Rating Scale.