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Annals of General Psychiatry
Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Case report

Effect of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar depression with psychotic features: a case report

Authors: Tomoko Kajiya, Hiroko Sugawara, Yusuke Kajio, Satoru Morieda, Hibiki Tanaka, Tadashi Jono, Noboru Fujise, Mamoru Hashimoto

Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Major depressive episodes with psychotic features are more common in bipolar disorder than in major depressive disorder; however, there is little information on the optimal treatment for bipolar depression with psychotic features.

Case presentation

The patient was a 69-year-old man. At the age of 66, he was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of bipolar depression with psychotic features. He was treated with a combination therapy of antipsychotics and antidepressants during long-term hospitalization. At the age of 69, he relapsed and was admitted to the hospital again. He was initially treated with olanzapine and lithium for the treatment of bipolar depression with psychotic features. He partially responded to the combination therapy, and psychomotor retardation and delusion of guilt disappeared; however, he developed psychomotor agitation and delusion of persecution, which was a mood-incongruent psychotic feature. Finally, he fully recovered with an additional dosage of lamotrigine, and had no experience of relapse after discontinuation of olanzapine.

Conclusions

This case report implicates the utility of lamotrigine for bipolar depression with psychotic features, and further studies are needed to establish the optimal treatment.
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Metadata
Title
Effect of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar depression with psychotic features: a case report
Authors
Tomoko Kajiya
Hiroko Sugawara
Yusuke Kajio
Satoru Morieda
Hibiki Tanaka
Tadashi Jono
Noboru Fujise
Mamoru Hashimoto
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Annals of General Psychiatry / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1744-859X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-017-0154-2

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