title: Case report on the management of depression in schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type focusing on lithium levels and measurement-based care.
abstract: There is little evidence supporting the management of depression in schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Managing bipolar depression can be a daunting task for clinicians. Most bipolar patients spend 80% of their time in the depressive phase of illness. In contrast with full-blown mania, patients and family frequently fail to recognize bipolar depression, which may interfere with early diagnosis and treatment. With only a few medications approved for bipolar depression, treatment becomes very challenging. There is evidence to support that schizoaffective depression has a worse outcome than psychotic depression and nonpsychotic depression. We report a patient with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type with severe depression who responded to an adequate level of lithium and subsequently, on a combination of lithium and quetiapine. Finally, we emphasize the importance of measurement-based care. To our knowledge, this is the first case report focusing on the management of depression in schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type.
authors: Treatment Research Program, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA. majujuju@yahoo.com
authors: Maju Mathew
authors: MM
authors: Koola
authors: Jan A
authors: JA
authors: Fawcett
authors: Deanna L
authors: DL
authors: Kelly
mesh_terms: D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000097:blood; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D008094:Lithium