title: Update on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: focus on cariprazine.
abstract: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are severe psychiatric disorders that are frequently associated with persistent symptoms and significant dysfunction. While there are a multitude of psychopharmacologic agents are available for treatment of these illnesses, suboptimal response and significant adverse consequences limit their utility. Cariprazine is a new, novel antipsychotic medication with dopamine D2 and D3 partial agonist effects. Its safety and efficacy have been investigated in acute psychosis of schizophrenia, bipolar mania, bipolar depression, and unipolar depression. Efficacy has been demonstrated in schizophrenia and mania. It is unclear if cariprazine is effective in depression associated with unipolar or bipolar illness. Adverse consequences include extrapyramidal symptoms including akathisia, and various gastrointestinal symptoms. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved cariprazine. This review will provide clinicians with basic information regarding the research program of cariprazine.
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville.
authors.forename: Rona Jeannie
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Lillian Jan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Peggy L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: El-Mallakh
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville.
authors.forename: Rif S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: El-Mallakh
keywords: bipolar depression; bipolar disorder; cariprazine; dopamine D2 receptor; dopamine D3 receptor; mania; schizophrenia