DEPERSONALIZATION DISORDER TREATMENTS TRIAL
DEPERSONALIZATION DISORDER TREATMENTS SERIES

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, somatic interventions and a blend of these modalities for the treatment of depersonalisation disorder were included in the review. Nevertheless, given the growing interest in its pathogenesis, and the publication of a number of treatment trials, a systematic review of randomised controlled pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy trials is timely.Ī systematic search of articles on DPRD published from January 1980 to August 2012, using Cochrane methods, was conducted. Other tried psychiatric interventions included electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (Ordas & Ritchie 1994) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (Jimenez-Genchi 2004).ĭepersonalisation-derealisation disorder (DPRD) is a distressing and impairing condition with a pathophysiology that is not well understood. 2011)), and opiate antagonists (naltrexone, (Ginsberg 2005)). 2011)), a combination of benzodiazepines and serotonergic activity drugs (citalopram-clonazepam, (Sachdev 2002)), anti-convulsants (lamotrigine, (Sierra et al. 1995)), SNRIs (venlafaxine, (Preve et al. 1992 Ratliff & Kerski 1995) fluoxetine and buspirone, (Abbas et al. 1987)), drugs with serotonergic activity (fluoxetine, (Fichtner et al. Subsequent single case reports suggest potential efficacy for a wide variety of treatments including benzodiazepines (phenazepam, (Nuller 1982) clonazepam, (Stein & Uhde 1989)), atypical neuroleptic medications (clozapine, (Nuller 1982)), tricyclic anti-depressants (desipramine, (Noyes et al. Historical reports of the use of barbiturates, amphetamines and antipsychotics in the treatment of DPRD do not suggest any consistent benefit (Ackner 1954 Shorvon 1946).

The results are sufficiently positive to prompt a larger controlled evaluation of lamotrigine as 'add-on' treatment in DPD.

DEPERSONALIZATION DISORDER TREATMENTS TRIAL

The results of this trial suggest that a significant number of patients with DPD may respond to lamotrigine when combined with antidepressant medication. Both maximum dose of lamotrigine used and before treatment Cambridge Depersonalization Scale scores showed positive correlations with the percentage of response. Most of the patients were receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.įifty-six percent (n = 18) of patients had a more than or equal to 30% reduction on the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale score at follow-up.

DEPERSONALIZATION DISORDER TREATMENTS SERIES

We report here an extended series of 32 patients with DPD in whom lamotrigine was prescribed as an augmenting medication. However, evidence from open trials suggests that it may be beneficial as an add-on medication with antidepressants. Lamotrigine as sole agent was not found to be effective in a previous small double-blind, randomized crossover trial. Depersonalization disorder (DPD) is a chronic condition characterized by the persistent subjective experience of unreality and detachment from the self.

Depersonalization disorder treatments