Alopecia and Mood Stabilizer Therapy
September 1996
in “
Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
”
Studysummary This review discusses the association between mood stabilizers and alopecia, providing diagnosis insights and management options, but reports no new clinical results.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The document from 1996 discusses hair loss as a side effect of mood stabilizers like lithium, valproate, and carbamazepine, affecting approximately 10%, 12%, and less than 6% of patients respectively. It highlights the need for clinicians to diagnose and manage alopecia without stopping the effective mood stabilizer, suggesting strategies such as reassurance, hair care, supplementation, minoxidil treatment, and hairpieces. A case study of a 34-year-old female patient on valproate is presented, who experienced severe alopecia but chose to continue the medication due to its effectiveness on her bipolar disorder, and later saw hair regrowth. The conclusion is that while mood stabilizer-induced hair loss is common, it can be managed to allow patients to maintain their treatment.
