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Objectives: There are studies that suggested the drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder reduced oxidative stress and demonstrated antioxidative effects. Especially atypical antipsychotics thought to be effective in this regard. We aimed to investigate the effects of mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medication on oxidative stress parameters in patients with bipolar disorder.
Methods: The effects of treatments on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative capacity (TOC) of 76 patients, who were diagnosed as bipolar disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV) diagnostic criteria, and admitted to the clinic because of manic episode were assessed in this naturalistic follow-up study. The patients were receiving lithium or valproic acid as mood stabilizers and olanzapine, risperidone or quetiapine as antipsychotic.
Results: All of the patients have been hospitalized for at least three weeks. TAC and TOC measurements of patients getting olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone treatment were performed. TAC and TOC changes in groups of patients rated as “a” or “b”, were not significant. But TAC measurements were significantly found to be increased in the group getting risperidone (p<0.05). In order to investigate the effects of mood regulators on oxidative stress, patients receiving olanzapine and risperidone were divided into two groups as receiving lithium or valproic acid. TOL levels were declined after treatment in lithium group. However, this effect was not observed in valproic acid group.
Conclusion: Olanzapine, clozapine and quetiapine but not risperidone were found to reduce oxidative stress in the studies. But the results of this study did not support the literature. Our study suggested that risperidone was effective on oxidative stress. Mood stabilizers might have superiorities each other in terms of their effects on oxidative stress. Studies with broad participation are needed about this issue.