title: Paliperidone Palmitate Depot in the Long-term Treatment of Psychotic Bipolar Disorder: A Case Series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) cannot be limited to the remission of acute phases but includes the long-term treatment in order to prevent relapses, poor outcome, and chronicity. The purpose of this article is to present 3 cases of severe psychotic bipolar patients treated with monthly injection of paliperidone pamoate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three poor-compliant severe psychotic BD patients were initiated to paliperidone palmitate (100-150 mg monthly), and they were followed up for 12 months. Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were administered at baseline and during monthly follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of patients presented recurrences or relapses during the 12-month follow-up period. The patients did not develop adverse effects or significant changes in metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results indicate that paliperidone palmitate (100-150 mg monthly) may be a therapeutic option for long-term treatment of psychotic BD, particularly for poor-compliant severe patients. These results have to be confirmed in double-blind studies with bipolar patients not necessarily belonging to psychotic subtype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buoli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ciappolino
authors.forename: Alfredo Carlo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068882:Paliperidone Palmitate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000068882:Paliperidone Palmitate