A Double-blind Randomized Clinical Study Of Acanthopanax In The Treatment Of Adolescent Patients With Bipolar Depression

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of combined acanthopanax and lithium carbonate for the treatment of adolescent patients with bipolar depression. Methods: 65 outpatients and inpatients with bipolar disorder aged 13~18 years who met the diagnostic criterion with bipolar type I depression episode and bipolar type â…¡ depression episode in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-â…£) and whose Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores were more than 17 were collected. A double-blind randomized clinical study was conducted comparing combined acanthopanax and lithium carbonate versus combined fluoxetine and lithium carbonate for 6 weeks. Efficacy and side effect were assessed by HAMD and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) before and after the treatment trial. Results: (1)Altogether, 65patients were enrolled in the study. 2 patients were dropped out for induced mania in fluoxetine group, the effective cases were 63 and the rate of dropping out was 3.08%. (2)At the end of treatment, the total effective rate was not significantly different between the two groups. (3)The HAMD scores decreased significantly after every week of the treatment. The HAMD score of the fluoxetine group decreased more than that of the acanthopanax group only in the second week. (4) The scores of the anxiety/somatization, cognitive disturbance, blocking and insomnia component decreased significantly after treatment in the acanthopanax group, while only the scores of the anxiety/somatization, the cognitive disturbance and the blocking factor decreased in the fluoxetine group. The score of insomnia in the acanthopanax group decreased more than that of the fluoxetine group, while the score of the blocking factor less. (5) The difference in the rate of adverse effect was not statistical between the two groups. Conclusion: (1)For adolescent patients with bipolar depression, combined acanthopanax and lithium carbonate are effective. (2)The time of acanthopanax showing effect was later than that of fluoxetine, but their effects were similar in the long way. (3)Combined acanthopanax and lithium carbonate can improve anxiety/somatization, cognitive disturbance, blocking and insomnia symptoms cluster, while fluoxetine can relieve anxiety/somatization, cognitive disturbance and blocking symptoms.. Acanthopanax was more effective to insomnia than fluoxetine, and fluoxetine was more effective to blocking than acanthopanax. (4)During the course of treatment with combined acanthopanax and lithium carbonate, there was no induced mania happened, which suggests it is a safe therapeutic scheme.