Topics: Bipolar Disorder

A 32-year-old pregnant woman with bipolar disorder, well-controlled on valproic acid (Depakote), comes into your office wanting advice on medications. What do you do?

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

While bipolar disorder is something we all encounter in practice, views are mixed as to how best to diagnose and treat it.

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Whether you work in a hospital or an office setting, you’ve probably seen many patients who come to you with a “history of bipolar disorder.” We’ve seen it, too, in multiple settings at an academic medical center. Is this a new epidemic? Or a redefinition of what it means to be “bipolar”?

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

How should we diagnose bipolar disorder? It isn’t always easy and current bipolar screening tools are problematic for a number of reasons.

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Why should we as psychiatrists focus on the psychosocial aspects of bipolar disorder? Dr. Miklowitz explores the benefits of a treatment program that combines targeted psychosocial treatments and medication.

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Should we expand our definition of bipolar disorder? Dr. Claudia Baldassano discusses bipolar diagnoses in this Expert Q&A.

Topics: Depressive Disorder | Research Updates

Augmentation of antidepressants with antipsychotics has become a common practice, and aripiprazole (Abilify) has been FDA-approved at doses from 2 mg/day to 15 mg/day for this purpose. In a recent report, 225 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who had failed one to four antidepressant trials were studied to determine whether low dose Abilify really works.