Gabapentin treatment for bipolar disorders.

OBJECTIVE

[corrected] To review the effectiveness data on the use of gabapentin in bipolar disorders.

DATA SOURCES

Clinical literature was accessed through MEDLINE (January 1985-November 2000). Key search terms included gabapentin, mood stabilizer, and bipolar disorder.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Bipolar disorder is a complex condition that can be difficult to treat effectively. Mood stabilizers are increasingly being used to manage bipolar disorder. Studies that used gabapentin in bipolar disorders are evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

From the data presented, gabapentin cannot be recommended for treatment of bipolar disorder. Further studies are required to determine whether gabapentin has any role in the management of bipolar disorder.