Prevalence of Dermatologic Side Effects of Mood Stabilizers in Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    April 2025 in “ European Psychiatry ”
    Francesca Pampaloni, Mete Ercis, Deepa Davis, Michela Starace, Bianca Maria Piraccini, Ayşegül Özerdem, Balwinder Singh, Mark A. Frye, Jacquetta Blacker, Marin Veldić
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    TLDR Mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder can cause skin issues, but severe reactions are rare.
    This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of dermatologic adverse effects (AEs) associated with mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder patients. The study included 47 articles, comprising various study designs. Findings revealed that lithium was linked to acneiform eruptions in 4.4% of patients, rash in 1.8%, and hair loss in 1.7%. Valproate was associated with hair loss in 4.6% and rash in 2.9% of patients. Carbamazepine had a rash prevalence of 6.0%, while lamotrigine showed the highest rash prevalence at 9.2%, with severe reactions being rare. Overall, while mood stabilizers were associated with dermatologic AEs, severe reactions were uncommon. Future research should focus on factors affecting these outcomes and their impact on patients' quality of life and treatment adherence.
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