The Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network. 2. Preliminary summary of demographics, course of illness and response to novel treatments.
BACKGROUND
The Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network (SFBN) evaluates treatments, course and clinical and neurobiological markers of response in bipolar illness.


OBJECTIVE
To give a preliminary summary of emerging findings in these areas.


METHODS
Studies with established and potentially antimanic, antidepressant and mood-stabilising agents range from open case series to double-blind randomised clinical trials, and use the same core assessment methodology, thereby optimising the comparability of the outcomes. The National Institute of Mental Health Life Chart Method is the core instrument for retrospective and prospective longitudinal illness description.


RESULTS
The first groups of patients enrolled show a considerable degree of past and present symptomatology, psychiatric comorbidity and functional impairment. There are associations of both genetic and early environmental factors with more severe courses of illness. Open case series with add-on olanzapine, lamotrigine, gabapentin or topiramate show a differential spectrum of effectiveness in refractory patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The SFBN provides important new data for the understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder.
Kupka
R W
RW
Altrecht Centre for Mental Health Care and University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands. kupka@hcrg.nl
Nolen
W A
WA
Altshuler
L L
LL
Denicoff
K D
KD
Frye
M A
MA
Leverich
G S
GS
Keck
P E
PE
McElroy
S L
SL
Rush
A J
AJ
Suppes
T
T
Post
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
D018692:Antimanic Agents