title: Use of atypical antipsychotic agents in bipolar and schizoaffective disorders: review of the empirical literature.
abstract: Atypical antipsychotic agents seem to be effective treatments for bipolar disorder, especially as adjunctive treatments. They may be a safer and more effective alternative to the common practice of maintenance adjunctive treatment with traditional antipsychotic agents in patients with bipolar disorder. However, currently available research studies are limited methodologically mainly to open-label, uncontrolled designs. Further research is required before the definitive efficacy of these agents in bipolar disorder is established. If randomized or double-blind data support the open-label data reviewed here, atypical antipsychotic agents may possess an important role in the adjunctive treatment of bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Center on Neuroscience, Medical Progress, and Society, Department of Psychiatry, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. nghaemi@partners.org
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ghaemi
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Goodwin
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents