Publication:

Comparison of safety and efficacy of lithium and lithium with SSRI in bipolar disorder

Background Bipolar disorder is a serious psychiatric illness resulting in depression and mania that affects approximately 1.5% of the world population and represents a significant source of individual morbidity and mortality. Hence the present study was undertaken to compare the safety and efficacy of Lithium and Lithium with SSRI in Bipolar disorder.

Methods Study was conducted in outpatient department, Department of Psychiatry, Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital attached to Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Kalaburagi, Karnataka. After obtaining Informed and written consent, Total 60 patients were selected after inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were diagnosed according to MINI and were divided into 2 groups, Group 1: Patients receiving Lithium 800-1200 group 2: Patients receiving Lithium + Escitalopram 20 mg/those intolerants to Escitalopram were given Sertraline 100 mg. Both groups were followed up regularly at interval of 1, 3, 5 and 8 weeks

Results Findings were tabulated according to comparative tools like MADRS, YMRS, C-SSRS, CGI- BP & QOLS, they were subjected to t-test and ANOVA to verify the outcome

Conclusions Patients treated with Lithium + SSRI showed to have better quality of life and had a lower risk of switch to manic episodes.