engleski

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is one of the forms of this illness most difficult to treat effectively. The phenomenon of rapid cycling tends to appear late in the course of the disorder, occurs more frequently among females, and is more frequently seen in patients with type II bipolar disorder. The first step in the management of rapid cycling bipolar disorder is thorough assessment of possible medications or environmental factors that may be destabilizing the disorder, and contributing to recurrence of episodes, increasing cycle frequency, or both. Although most evidence come from open series and case reports, one blinded, randomized study also supports the opinion that all currently approved antidepressant drugs pose some risk for increasing cycle frequency. Among clinically available monotherapies, valproate and lamotrigine, and some second generation antipsychotics like olanzapine appear to be clinically most useful. Electroconvulsive therapy may also prove efficacious in selected cases. The present paper provides a critical review of the evidence for the foregoing clinical issues in rapid cycling.

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder; Treatment

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