title: Issues in the treatment of women with bipolar illness.
abstract: Gender differences in bipolar illness have been relatively neglected, but the course of the illness does appear to differ between men and women. Compared with bipolar men, bipolar women are clearly more likely to develop the rapid cycling form of the illness and may also suffer from more episodes of depression. Therefore, the literature concerning the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder and of bipolar depression is reviewed. In addition, effects of bipolar illness on the female reproductive cycle are discussed. Since bipolar women are at high risk to develop postpartum episodes, the use of mood stabilizers in pregnancy is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychobiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md., USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leibenluft
mesh_terms: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012098:Reproduction; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012737:Sex Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D016642:Bupropion; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014635:Valproic Acid