title: Pharmacotherapy of inpatients with bipolar depression.
abstract: The pharmacotherapy of bipolar depression has not been well studied. Controlled studies support the efficacy of some antimanic and antidepressant drugs, but these studies usually exclude patients typically seen in nonresearch settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the pharmacotherapy of 69 inpatients with bipolar depression. More than 90% of the patients received at least one antimanic drug, and lithium was used most frequently. Only one-half of the patients received antidepressants. Three-quarters of antidepressant-treated patients received serotonin reuptake inhibitors or other nontricyclic drugs. There were few differences between antidepressant- and non-antidepressant-treated patients. Psychotic patients were more likely to receive lithium, neuroleptics, and anticholinergics, whereas nonpsychotic patients tended to receive anticonvulsants more often. Psychotic patients were also more likely to receive polypharmacy. These results suggest that polypharmacy of inpatients with bipolar depression is common, and that psychosis is an important variable in the choice of pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Howland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents