Discussing Bipolar Disorder with Your Patients

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Case Study: Ms. N was a 30 year old attorney who was referred to me by her treating psychiatrist for consultation. She had a long history of depression and anxiety. Her psychiatrist had treated her with a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants. Her recent response to Lexapro was an almost “too rapid” improvement followed by the “wors

Distinguishing Bipolar from Unipolar Depression

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Adjunctive Nuvigil Possibly Effective for Bipolar Depression

Topics: Bipolar Disorder | Depressive Disorder

Fluoxetine May Prevent Relapse After Bipolar II Depressive Episode

Topics: Bipolar Disorder | Depressive Disorder

Depakote for Acute Bipolar Depression? Maybe

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Antidepressants: Little Long-Term Benefit for Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Antidepressants | Bipolar Disorder

Popular Bipolar Screening Measure Questioned

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Seroquel For Bipolar Depression: The BOLDest and Best?

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Antidepressants May Not Induce Mania in Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Antidepressants | Bipolar Disorder

Lamictal May Have Small Benefit for Bipolar Depression

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Antidepressants and Bipolar Disorder: An Update

Topics: Antidepressants | Bipolar Disorder

Much of what is confusing and controversial in the treatment of bipolar disorder revolves around the role of antidepressants. Are they dangerous or safe? Are they effective or ineffective? Does it matter whether the patient has Bipolar I or II? Do antidepressants cause manic switching? In some circles, even asking this question is tantamount to as

Is Bipolar Disorder Overdiagnosed?

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

An approach to treating comorbid anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

A new study is consistent with FDA’s black box requirements for antidepressants.

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Adjunctive psychotherapy helpful in bipolar depression

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Pediatric bipolar vs. severe mood dysregulation: New evidence

Topics: Bipolar Disorder | Child Psychiatry

It’s Official: Topamax doesn’t work for Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder in Children: Is the Diagnosis Valid?

Topics: Bipolar Disorder | Child Psychiatry

We’ve all noticed the trend: children are increasingly being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. According to the Wall Street Journal, the number of children diagnosed with bipolar increased by 26% from 2002 to 2004 (May 25, 2005). This issue is controversial, because psychiatrists are already accused of overmedicating children. Over the last several

The STEP-BD Study: An Introduction

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

The STEP-BD study, an NIMH-funded study of bipolar disorder, has enrolled its last patient, and we have already begun to see the first results filtering through to the psychiatric journals. STEP-BD stands for “Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder,” and it is the latest installment in a recent trend in psychiatric research

Bipolar II Disorder: A Useful Concept?

Topics: Bipolar Disorder

How common is bipolar II disorder, and are we frequently missing the diagnosis? The answer depends on who you talk to. On the one hand we have the extreme viewpoint of Akiskal and colleagues, who argue that half of all patients presenting with depression actually have bipolar II disorder and that if you dig deep enough, you will find not one or two v