title: Redefining mood stabilization.
abstract: This review considers the definition of the term 'mood-stabilizer' in the context of new pharmacological agents for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Three definitions of a mood-stabilizer are described and the available data from randomized, double-blind, controlled trials for putative mood-stabilizers studied in the treatment of different aspects of bipolar disorder (mania, mixed states, depression, maintenance) are reviewed. No available agent meets the criteria for a comprehensive mood-stabilizer, although lithium comes the closest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA. keckpe@email.uc.edu
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McElroy
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D006801:Humans; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents