OFC in bipolar depression Author: Tohen, et al. Title: Efficacy of olanzapine and olanzapine/fluoxetine combination in the treatment of bipolar I depression. Reference: Arch Gen Psychiatry 2003;60:1079-1088. Also: Focus on rapid cycling. World J Psychiatry 2004;5(Suppl 1):50. [Conference Abstract] Purpose: Efficacy trial of OFC in bipolar I depression, including rapid-cycling depression. Study design: Randomized, double-blinded trial. Follow up: 8 weeks. Patients: 833 patients (86 OFC, 370 olanzapine, and 377 placebo). Treatment:OFC (6 and 25 mg/day, 6 and 20 mg/day, or 12 and 50 mg/day), olanzapine (5–20 mg/day), or placebo. Results: Greater improvements were observed with OFC than with olanzapine or placebo. A subanalysis revealed the efficacy of OFC in rapid-cycling bipolar depression. OFC was not associated with increased rates of treatment-emergent mania. Fluoxetine monotherapy was not addressed. Mean change in body weight was significantly increased for both OFC and olanzapine compared with placebo (+2.8 kg , +2.6 kg, and -0.5 kg, respectively).
