Atypical antipsychotics in bipolar and schizoaffective disorders.
No data are available comparing the relative efficacy of different atypical agents in patients with bipolar disorder. A chart review of bipolar and schizoaffective disorder patients who had received courses of at least two atypical agents (n = 33) in a community psychiatry system was conducted. No differences in rates of hospitalizations were found between individual atypical agents or between atypical agents as a class and conventional neuroleptics. However, a significant reduction in rates of emergency room visits was found with atypical agents compared to conventional neuroleptics, with a trend toward greater reduction with clozapine compared to other atypical antipsychotics. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these preliminary observations.
Brown
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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Department of Psychiatry, 75390-9070, USA. sherwood.brown@utsouthwestern.edu
Thomas
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NR
Carmody
T
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Mahadi
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Nejtek
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VA
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents