Aripiprazole Versus Lithium in Management of Acute Mania: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare aripiprazole with lithium for the effectiveness of treating Iranian male patients with acute mania.

METHODS: A total of 30 male in-patients with bipolar I disorder who presented with relapse or new emergence of an episode of acute mania were equally randomised to receive 4 weeks of aripiprazole (5 mg uncoated tablets) or lithium carbonate (300 mg uncoated tablets) according to standard practice guidelines and titration protocols. The Manic State Rating Scale (MSRS) was used to determine the severity of manic symptoms at baseline (week 0) and up to week 4. The Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS), Schedule for Assessment of Insight (SAI), and Clinical Global Impressions-Global Improvement scale (CGI-G) were used to determine the severity of manic symptoms, insight, and overall illness severity, respectively. All outcome measures were recorded by a single experienced psychiatrist.

RESULTS: The frequency and intensity of manic symptoms (MSRS score) in both groups decreased significantly from baseline to week 4. In the aripiprazole and lithium groups, the intensity of manic symptoms decreased by ≥25% in 5 and 7 patients and by >50% in 1 and 5 patients, respectively. Between-group analysis showed that lithium was more effective at weeks 3 and 4 in decreasing the frequency and intensity of manic symptoms. The lithium group achieved greater improvement in symptoms than the aripiprazole group in terms of BRMS score, SAI score, and CGI-G.

CONCLUSION: Lithium is more effective than aripiprazole in improving manic symptoms.