title: Treatment of bipolar depression.
abstract: Depression is usually the predominant phase in bipolar disorder, causes the most psychosocial disability, and carries significant risk of suicide. The management of bipolar depression is relatively under-studied and poses significant challenges for clinicians. There is substantial dissent regarding optimal pharmacotherapy for bipolar depression, particularly around the role of antidepressants. Individual and combination pharmacotherapy should be integrated into a personalised psychosocial and lifestyle package of interventions that considers the person's clinical profile and preferences. The relative lack of evidence relating to optimal strategies, especially when bipolar depression occurs with common comorbidities, poses challenges and requires further research. A flexible approach and evidence-based combinations of treatments can provide effective strategies for improving quality of life and reducing morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. seetald@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moylan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giorlando
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Ajeet B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Seetal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Gin S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Malhi
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D018570:Risk Assessment