Use of Antidepressants in Bipolar Disorder

1
Use of Antidepressants in Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder is associated with considerable
  depressive morbidity
• Risk-to-benefit ratio of antidepressants as
  adjuncts to mood stabilizers is an area of
  controversy and disagreement
• Antidepressants may increase risk of iatrogenic
  mania, mixed states, rapid cycling
• APA 2002 guidelines recommend conservative use of
  antidepressants
• Although evidence of their safety and efficacy is
  limited, antidepressants are commonly used in
  treatment of bipolar depression

Hirschfeld RM et al. Presented at 156th American
Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting May
17-22, 2003 San Francisco, CA. Goldberg JF, et
al. Bipolar Disord. 20035407-420. American
Psychiatric Association. Practice Guidelines for
the Treatment of Patients With Bipolar Disorder.
2nd ed. Washington, DC American Psychiatric
Publishing Group 2002.