How consistent are international treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder?

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Steven Marwaha publishes his debut blog on a review article that asks if there is consensus across international evidence-based guidelines for the management of bipolar disorder.

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Cannabis and mania: what’s the link?

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Kathryn Walsh summarises a systematic review which finds that cannabis use may exacerbate symptoms of mania in those with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and trigger symptoms of mania in the general population.

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Haloperidol reduces mania a little faster than second-generation antipsychotics, according to systematic review

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There are a range of treatment options for people with bipolar disorder who are experiencing a manic episode. An important part of this treatment is to reduce the symptoms of mania and provide the individual with some level of normality. I blogged this time last year about a meta-analysis in the Lancet that showed that [read the full story…]

New guidance on aripiprazole as a treatment for bipolar mania

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Aripiprazole (brand names Abilify and Aripiprex) is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat a number of mental health disorders including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. This new guidance has been written by a group of Pan-European experts who have come together to review new clinical guidelines for the management of mania and the role of aripiprazole [read the full story…]

Major new meta-analysis shows that antipsychotics are significantly more effective than mood stabilisers for treating acute mania

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Researchers from Oxford and Verona have published a major new meta-analysis in the Lancet, which measures the effectiveness of all anti-manic drugs. The review team searched and found 68 randomised controlled trials from 1980-2010 (a total of 16,073 patients).  The study includes a range of antipsychotics and mood stabilisers used at a therapeutic dose range [read the full story…]