Loading...
Bipolar depression has been notoriously difficult to treat. Recent prominent studies showed no advantage for antidepressant medications added to mood stabilizers (Journal Watch Psychiatry Mar 28 2007). This 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of add-on modafinil involved 85 patients with bipolar depression and inadequate response to mood stabilizers; 49 were taking adjunctive antidepressants. Modafinil was started at 100 mg/day and increased to 200 mg/day after 1 week. The study received funding from the Stanley Foundation and the drug manufacturer.
Of the study applicants, 25% were excluded for taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or nefazodone or having histories of manic switches with antidepressants, substance abuse…