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An ideal medical treatment for affec­tive disorders is not yet available. Specific needs of individual patients can be met by selecting from among a wide range of drugs on the market. The authors review literature on the use of anticon­vulsants in patients with affective disorders. They discuss various aspects of this therapy: treatment and prophylaxis of manic and depressive episo­des; side effects, drug interactions and mecha­nisms of action of anticonvulsants. Some basic instructions about therapy are given. The authors feel that anticonvulsants are a good alternative to other drugs used to treat affective disorders.