Lamotrigine Phase III Study in Bipolar I Disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects must be able to effectively communicate with study personnel, have the ability to comprehend the key components of the Inform Consent Form and must provide written informed consent to participate in the study prior to any study-specific assessments or procedures.
• An in-patient or out-patient (male or female) and aged ≥18 years old.

• Disease to be studied: Has a diagnosis of the following disease as defined by DSM-IV criteria currently or within 60 days:

  a)Bipolar I Disorder, most recent episode depressed (296.5x); b)Bipolar I Disorder, most recent episode hypomanic (296.40); c)Bipolar I Disorder, most recent episode manic (296.4x); d)Bipolar I Disorder, most recent episode mixed (296.6x)

• The subject who has a diagnose of "bipolar I disorder, most recent episode depressed (296.5x)" must meet the following criteria:

Has at least one well documented manic, hypomanic or mixed episode, as defined by DSM-IV criteria, within 3 years of enrolment ; The duration of recent/current depressive episode is at least 2 weeks but not longer than 12 months prior to enrolment; For subject with currently experiencing a depressive episode, he/she must have a minimum total score of 18 on the HAMD-17 at s screening.

- The subject who has a diagnosis of "bipolar I disorder, most recent episode hypomanic (296.40)" or "bipolar I disorder, most recent episode manic (296.4x)" or "bipolar I disorder, most recent episode mixed (296.6x)" must meet the following criteria: Has had at least one well documented additional manic, hypomanic or mixed episode and one depressed episode, as defined by DSM-IV criteria, within 3 years of enrolment; Has a duration of the index manic episode of at least 1 week (unless hospitalised) or hypomanic episode of at least 4 days or mixed episode of at least 1 week. In neither case should the index episode be more than 12 months in duration; If the subject's index episode is the subject's initial/current manic mood event, subject must have a minimum score of 10 on the first 11 items of the YMRS at screening; the subject's index episode is the subject's initial/current mixed mood event, subject must have a minimum score of 10 on the first 11 items of the YMRS, and have a minimum score of 18 on the HAMD-17 at screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has met DSM-IV criteria for rapid cycling and has had more than 4 manic, hypomanic, mixed or depressive episodes in the 12-month period prior to enrollment.
• Has a significant DSM-IV Axis II diagnosis which would suggest non-responsiveness to pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder or non-compliance with the protocol.
• Has a current or previous diagnosis of an Axis I disorder (including anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa) with the exception of bipolar disorder or has received corresponding treatment, or has been diagnosed with dysthymia within the previous 2 years.
• Has signs or symptoms of psychosis.
• The subject, in the investigator's judgment, poses a suicidal risk, has attempted suicide within 6 months prior to screening (assessed using the C-SSRS Baseline) or .
• Has documented IQ < 70 or suspected mental retardation.
• Has a history of substance abuse or dependence within 12 months prior to enrolment (DSM-IV defined substance categories, excluding nicotine and caffeine and including alcohol), or has as a positive urine test for illicit drug use (excluding nicotine and caffeine).
• Has received fluoxetine within 4 weeks prior to entry into the open-label phase; has received oral contraceptives or other hormonal preparations containing estrogen within 2 weeks prior to entry into the open-label phase; has received lopinavir/ritonavir or atazanavir /ritonavir within 7 days prior to the baseline visit.
• Has a clinically significant and/or unstable medical disorder (with or without lab test results); or clinically significant test results (ECG, hematology, clinical chemistry, or urinalysis) as per investigator's judgment; or a disorder that would interfere with the action, absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of lamotrigine; per investigator's clinical judgment (after consulting GSK medical monitor), might pose a safety concern; or interfere with the accurate assessment of safety or efficacy.
• Has a history or current diagnosis of epilepsy.
• Is morbidly obese, i.e. if Body Mass Index (BMI) is > 35 {BMI = Body weight (in kg) divided by (Height in meters squared).
• Single or average QTcB or QTc > 450 msec; for patients with bundle branch block QTc > 480 msec.
• Has a history of hepatic dysfunction; ALT or AST ≥ 2 x ULN; ALP or total bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN (excluding total bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN but direct bilirubin < 35%) or other conditions which, in the investigator's judgment, would render patients unsuitable for the study.
• Has a history of drug allergy (including rash) or a medically significant adverse effect from any ingredient of lamotrigine, or a history of rash due to anti-epileptic drugs or has frequent and/or serious hypersensitivity reaction to multiple drugs.
• Participation in any study related to lamotrigine within 6 months before screening or has received lamotrigine within 4 weeks before screening.
• Participation in another clinical study unrelated to the current illness currently or within the previous 30 days, or 3 months for studies related to the current illness.
• Initiation of systematic psychotherapy within 3 months prior to screening or planned initiation of systematic psychotherapy during the study.
• Female subjects who are pregnant, lactating or do not agree to use the contraceptive methods such as use of condom, injection of progesterone, a reliable barrier method of birth control, partner with vasectomy or abstinence during the study.