Prescribing patterns for treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder in a specialty clinic.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe prescribing practices in the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder in a university practice setting.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed on 53 youths diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition (DSM-IV), criteria with bipolar spectrum disorder under the active care of child psychiatrists practicing in a pediatric psychopharmacology specialty clinic. Current medications, doses, and related adverse events were recorded. Clinicians were asked to provide a target disorder (bipolar mania/mixed state, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], or anxiety) for each medication to the best of their ability. The Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) scale was used to measure severity of each disorder before treatment and the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) was used to quantify the magnitude of improvement with treatment. Meaningful improvement of the disorder was defined by CGI-I score of 1 or 2.


RESULTS
The mean number of psychotropic medications per patient was 3.0 +/- 1.6. A total of 68% of patients were treated for co-morbid disorders; 23% of patients were treated with monotherapy, primarily with second-generation antipsychotics. Mania improved in 80% of cases, mixed state improved in 57% of cases, ADHD improved in 56% of cases, anxiety improved in 61% of cases, and depression improved in 90% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The management of pediatric bipolar disorder often requires multiple medications. For the treatment of mania/mixed states, clinicians prescribed second-generation antipsychotics more frequently than mood stabilizers, especially in the context of monotherapy. Co-morbidity was a frequent problem with moderate success obtained with combined pharmacotherapy approaches. Further psychosocial strategies to augment pharmacotherapy may improve outcome while reducing the medication burden in pediatric bipolar disorder.
Potter
Mona P
MP
Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Liu
Howard Y
HY
Monuteaux
Michael C
MC
Henderson
Carly S
CS
Wozniak
Janet
J
Wilens
Timothy E
TE
Biederman
Joseph
J
D000293:Adolescent; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs