A new treatment for bipolar disorder (manic depression) might be a well-known generic breast cancer treatment — tamoxifen.

[P]ilot trials have suggested that tamoxifen may be effective in treating mania — an abnormally elevated mood that features impulsive behavior, higher energy and activity levels, and disconnected thoughts — in patients with bipolar disorder.

[...]

Patients in the tamoxifen group had significantly lower scores on tests used to measure the severity of mania at the end of the three-week period, while those in the placebo group had scores that slightly increased.

Because this has only been tested in small trials, we don’t know if the results will hold true in larger clinical trials. But this study is a good sign because tamoxifen is a relatively inexpensive and well-understood drug. There’s also something positive about seeing new uses found for existing drugs (instead of a new, more expensive drug that isn’t really any more effective).

Read the full article: Old Drug May Help Reduce Mania

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 8 Mar 2008