Risperidone and paroxetine given singly and in combination for bipolar depression.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar depression is a major clinical problem that remains under-researched. The current study was intended to evaluate the effects of the novel antipsychotic risperidone, the selective serotonin reup-take inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine, and the combination in patients with bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Thirty patients with DSM-IV bipolar (I or II) disorder, depressed phase, who were receiving a stable dose of a mood stabilizer were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with risperidone (plus placebo), paroxetine (plus placebo), or the combination of risperidone and paroxetine. Data were gathered from August 1999 to September 2001.


RESULTS
All 3 groups experienced significant reductions in depression ratings from baseline to endpoint; there were no significant differences in outcome between groups. There were statistically significant differences in paroxetine dose contrasting paroxetine plus placebo against the combined condition. The switch rate into mania or hypomania was very low, with only 1 patient in the paroxetine plus placebo condition experiencing mild hypomania.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that risperidone, paroxetine, and the combination of risperidone and paroxetine are equally but modestly effective when added to a mood stabilizer in bipolar depression. The paroxetine dose differed between groups, possibly because of drug-drug interactions. Using another SSRI in the combined condition could have produced a more robust effect and should be tested.
Shelton
Richard C
RC
Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. richard.Shelton@vanderbilt.edu
Stahl
Stephen M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium; D017374:Paroxetine; D018967:Risperidone; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors