Efficacy of aripiprazole adjunctive to lithium or valproate in the long-term treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder with an inadequate response to lithium or valproate monotherapy: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized study

Marcus R, Khan A, Rollin L, Morris B, Timko K, Carson W, Sanchez R. Efficacy of aripiprazole adjunctive to lithium or valproate in the long-term treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder with an inadequate response to lithium or valproate monotherapy: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized study.Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 133–144. © 2011 The Authors.Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley hazard ratio = 0.54 (95% confidence interval: 0.33–0.89; log-rank p = 0.014). The most common AEs ≥ 5% (ARI + Li / Val versus PLB + Li / Val) were headache (13.2% versus 10.8%), weight increase (9.0% versus 6.6%), tremor (6.0% versus 2.4%), and insomnia (5.4% versus 9.6%). Conclusions: Continuation of ARI + Li / Val treatment increased the time to relapse to any mood episode compared with Li or Val monotherapy, and was relatively well tolerated during the one-year study. These findings suggest that there is a long-term benefit in continuing ARI adjunctive to a mood stabilizer after sustained remission is achieved.