Psychiatria pre prax 5/2005

SECOND GENERATION ANTIPSYCHOTICS IN THE TREATMENT OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

The second generation antipsychotics have expanded the treatment armamentarium for bipolar disorder. Most of the second generation antipsychotic drugs have been found to be effective in clinical controlled trials as monotherapy in bipolar mania or as an add-on treatment with mood stabilizers. The second generation antipsychotic drugs possess a number of advantages, including significantly less extrapyramidal symptoms, diminished risk of tardive dyskinesia, lack of increase in serum prolactin levels (with the exception of risperidone), and improvement in cognition. Data indicate that second generation antipsychotics can serve as adjunctive as well as alternative agents in the treatment of manic states. AP II have also demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of bipolar depression and during the maintenance phase of the treatment.

Keywords: bipolar disorder, mania, depression, second generation antipsychotics.