Comparison of lithium and sodium valproate combination therapy with sodium valproate monotherapy in euthymic bipolar patients

BACKGROUND: Lithium and sodium valproate combination therapy is the most recommended after the failure of monotherapy which is used as the first-line treatment commonly. If this combination is found to have synergistic pharmacological effects it may prove better than the monotherapy and could even be used as a first-line therapy, but the comparison between this combination and monotherapy has been rarely done in the past especially in terms of quality of life, functioning and cognition. AIM OF THE STUDY: To compare the quality of life, functioning and certain cognitive variables between euthymic bipolar patients on sodium valproate and lithium combination therapy with those on valproate monotherapy. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analytical study. Independent t tests, along with Pearson correlation and Spearmann rank correlation tests were employed for the main results and IBM SPSS version 20 was used. RESULTS: WHOQOL-BREF and GAF scores were better in the group receiving combination therapy. No significant differences in the cognitive variables between the two groups observed. CONCLUSION: Patients on lithium and sodium valpoate combination therapy seem to have a better quality of life and functioning as compared to those on sodium valproate monotherapy. No difference in cognition between the two groups was observed