Efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine in the treatment of bipolar disorder: preliminary evidence from a 12-month open-label study.
BACKGROUND
The literature on the use of quetiapine for the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) is limited to case reports, and there are no systematic studies on the efficacy of quetiapine in the prophylactic treatment of BD. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of flexible doses of quetiapine and well established mood stabilizers in the maintenance treatment of BD.


METHODS
Twenty-eight DSM-IV BD outpatients were consecutively recruited into the study and were randomized to receive one of two open-label treatments, with quetiapine or classical mood stabilizers at flexible doses for 12 months. Clinical assessment was carried out using BPRS, CGI, YMRS and the 21-item HAM-D at baseline (T0) and every 2 months until the end of the study. ANOVAs with repeated measures were applied to the rating scale scores considering the time and the treatment group as main factors.


RESULTS
All patients experienced a significant improvement on the BPRS, CGI and HAM-D scores, with no significant side-effects and a good compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
This study should be considered preliminary given the small sample size investigated and the open-label design.


CONCLUSIONS
If these results will be replicated on larger samples and in controlled studies, there could be relevant implications for the use of quetiapine as an alternative maintenance treatment for BD.
Altamura
A C
AC
Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ospedale, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy. altamura@ospedalesacco.lom.it
Salvadori
Daniele
D
Madaro
Donato
D
Santini
Annalisa
A
Mundo
Emanuela
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate