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Review
. 2015;13(5):592-604.
doi: 10.2174/1570159x13666150630171954.

Pharmacological Approaches for Treatment-resistant Bipolar Disorder

Shi Hui Poon, Kang Sim, Ross J Baldessarini  1
Affiliations
Review

Pharmacological Approaches for Treatment-resistant Bipolar Disorder

Shi Hui Poon et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015.

Abstract

Bipolar disorder is prevalent, with high risks of disability, substance abuse and premature mortality. Treatment responses typically are incomplete, especially for depressive components, so that many cases can be considered "treatment resistant." We reviewed reports on experimental treatments for such patients: there is a striking paucity of such research, mainly involving small incompletely controlled trials of add-on treatment, and findings remain preliminary. Encouraging results have been reported by adding aripiprazole, bupropion, clozapine, ketamine, memantine, pramipexole, pregabalin, and perhaps tri-iodothyronine in resistant manic or depressive phases. The urgency of incomplete responses in such a severe illness underscores the need for more systematic, simpler, and better controlled studies in more homogeneous samples of patients.

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) flowchart illustrating methodological steps in identifying empirical studies to be included in this systematic review.
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