Psychotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Psychotherapy, including details on psychiatry, psychoanalysis, methods, outcomes.

What psychotherapists should know about pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorder.

Goldberg JF

Affective Disorders Program, Silver Hill Hospital, New Canaan, CT 06840, USA. jfgoldberg@yahoo.com

This article provides a practice-friendly overview of current psychotropic agents used for the treatment of bipolar disorder. The author reviews definitions and concepts about mood stabilization according to the evidence base, in turn profiling a "clinical niche" for lithium, anticonvulsant drugs, atypical antipsychotics, and antidepressants. Results from randomized clinical trials are summarized to help clinicians individualize treatment decisions and tailor them to real-world patients. Recognition and management of common adverse effects are discussed alongside risk-benefit strategies to guide optimal treatment that balances clinical efficacy with drug safety and tolerability.

Published 12 April 2007 in J Clin Psychol, 63(5): 475-90.
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