RESULTS There is sufficient evidence for a Grade A recommendation of the use of olanzapine plus fluoxetine at reducing depressive symptoms in bipolar depression and of quetiapine at high doses for depressive symptoms occurring during mixed episodes .
These results mostly overlap with the approved treatments for bipolar depression in adults
BACKGROUND The management of depressive and mixed symptoms in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder ( BD ) remains a matter of debate .
The goal of this review is , thus , to systematic ally examine the impact of atypical antipsychotics ( AAPs ) and mood stabilisers in the treatment of bipolar depression and /or mixed states .
Aripiprazole augmentation in treatment-resistant bipolar depression: Early response and development of akathisia
There is growing evidence that atypical antipsychotics may be effective in the treatment of acute bipolar depression . Results from r and omized , placebo-controlled trials support the use of quetiapine monotherapy and a combination of olanzapine-fluoxetine in the depressed phase of bipolar disorder , while only limited data exists regarding the use of aripiprazole in this population . To assess the potential effectiveness of aripiprazole in treating acute bipolar depression , a chart review was conducted on 12 patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder ( I , II , and not otherwise specified [ NOS ] ) who received aripiprazole augmentation for the relief of an acute major depressive episode . After 8 weeks of treatment , 4 of 12 ( 33 % ) patients demonstrated a response , defined as a 50 % reduction in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) score . In addition , 5 of 12 ( 42 % ) patients newly developed akathisia . This report , though limited by its small sample size and naturalistic design , suggests that the usefulness of aripiprazole in the treatment of bipolar depression may be limited by akathisia
RESULTS There is sufficient evidence for a Grade A recommendation of the use of olanzapine plus fluoxetine at reducing depressive symptoms in bipolar depression and of quetiapine at high doses for depressive symptoms occurring during mixed episodes .
These results mostly overlap with the approved treatments for bipolar depression in adults
BACKGROUND The management of depressive and mixed symptoms in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder ( BD ) remains a matter of debate .
The goal of this review is , thus , to systematic ally examine the impact of atypical antipsychotics ( AAPs ) and mood stabilisers in the treatment of bipolar depression and /or mixed states .