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document
Prophylactic effect of phenytoin in bipolar disorder : a controlled study . OBJECTIVE Phenytoin is an effective anticonvulsant that has not previously been studied prophylactically in bipolar ( BP ) patients . Thus a study of phenytoin prophylaxis was undertaken and is herein reported . METHOD Bipolar patients were studied who had at least one episode per year in the previous 2 years despite ongoing prophylaxis . Patients were stable for a mean of 4 months ( range 1-13 ) before entering the study . Phenytoin or placebo was added to their current therapy in a double-blind cross-over design for 6 months in each phase . Thirty observation periods of 6 months each were studied for 23 patients . RESULTS Three patients had relapse on phenytoin and nine had relapse on placebo . There was a significant prophylactic effect of phenytoin in BP disorder [ Cox 's F-test for comparing survival in two groups : F ( 6 , 18 ) = 3.44 , p = 0.02 ] . CONCLUSIONS This study suggests prophylactic effects of add-on phenytoin in BP illness . However , the number of patients was small and confirmation is necessary .
15405
Intervention_Pharmacological
phenytoin
15406
Intervention_Pharmacological
Phenytoin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
phenytoin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Phenytoin
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
phenytoin
15411
Intervention_Pharmacological
phenytoin
15412
Intervention_Pharmacological
phenytoin
15413
Outcome_Physical
Prophylactic effect
15414
Outcome_Physical
relapse
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Outcome_Physical
prophylactic effect
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Outcome_Physical
[ Cox 's F-test
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Outcome_Mortality
survival in
15418
Outcome_Physical
prophylactic effects
15419
Participant_Condition
bipolar disorder
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Participant_Condition
bipolar
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Participant_Condition
BP
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Participant_Condition
Bipolar
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Participant_Condition
had at least one episode per year
15424
Participant_Condition
ongoing prophylaxis
15425
Participant_Condition
stable for a mean of 4 months ( range 1-13 ) before entering the study
15426
Participant_Sample-size
23