Neuroleptics in acute mania: a pharmacoepidemiologic study.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an epidemiologic descriptive analysis of the acute drug treatment of inpatients with bipolar mania in state psychiatric facilities in 1990.


METHODS
We surveyed the first 3 weeks of drug treatment of all inpatients with bipolar mania who were admitted to 22 New York State adult psychiatric facilities during a 6-month period (n = 528).


RESULTS
Almost all patients with mania were treated with neuroleptics. The mean +/- SD neuroleptic dosage was 684 +/- 543 mg/d chlorpromazine equivalents. Sixty-one percent of the patients received lithium and 12% received carbamazepine or valproate. Neuroleptic dosage was related to age, with older patients receiving lower dosages. Patients receiving combination treatment of a neuroleptic with either lithium, an anticonvulsant, or a benzodiazepine received a mean neuroleptic dosage similar to that of patients treated with a neuroleptic alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Although their use has been widely discouraged for mood disorders, neuroleptics have been the standard treatment for acute mania.
Chou
J C
JC
Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
Zito
J M
JM
Vitrai
J
J
Craig
T J
TJ
Allingham
B H
BH
Czobor
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents