A placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of lamotrigine in depersonalization disorder

There is evidence to support the view that glutamate hyperactivity might be relevant to the neurobiology of depersonalization. We tested the efficacy of lamotrigine, which reduces glutamate release, as a treatment for patients with depersonalization disorder. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cros...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford) 2003-03, Vol.17 (1), p.103-105
Main Authors: Sierra, Mauricio, Phillips, Mary L., Ivin, Glynis, Krystal, John, David, Anthony S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents
Antidepressive Agents - administration & dosage
Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects
Antidepressive Agents - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Over Studies
Depersonalization - drug therapy
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Female
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Lamotrigine
Male
Medical sciences
Medical treatment
Mental disorders
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Pilot Projects
Treatment Outcome
Triazines - administration & dosage
Triazines - adverse effects
Triazines - blood
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Summary:There is evidence to support the view that glutamate hyperactivity might be relevant to the neurobiology of depersonalization. We tested the efficacy of lamotrigine, which reduces glutamate release, as a treatment for patients with depersonalization disorder. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design was used to evaluate 12 weeks of treatment of lamotrigine. Subjects comprised nine patients with DSM-IV depersonalization disorder. Changes on the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale and the Present State Examination depersonalization/derealization items were compared across the two cross-over periods. Lamotrigine was not significantly superior to placebo. None of the nine patients was deemed a responder to the lamotrigine arm of the cross-over. Lamotrigine does not seem to be useful as a sole medication in the treatment of depersonalization disorder.
ISSN:0269-8811
1461-7285
DOI:10.1177/0269881103017001712