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Cited by 116Bipolar Disorder and TreatmentTreatment of Major DepressionPersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 63 of the 63 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Antidepressants in bipolar depression: an enduring controversy

Open access
Gitlin, Michael J.·2018·International Journal of Bipolar Disorders
DOI 10.1186/s40345-018-0133-9PMC PMC6269438
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Abstract

The proper place and the optimal use of antidepressants in treating bipolar depression continues to be an area of great interest and greater controversy with passionate opinions more common than good studies. Even the handful of meta-analyses in the area disagree with each other. Overall, the evidence that antidepressants are effective in treating bipolar depression is weak. Additionally, many experts and clinicians worry greatly about the capacity of antidepressants to cause affective switching or mood destabilization. Yet, in short term controlled studies, with most patients also taking mood stabilizers, antidepressants are not associated with switches into mania/hypomania. Evidence of cycle acceleration with antidepressants primarily reflects treatment with older antidepressants, e.g., tricyclics. Similar evidence with modern antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is lacking. The key questions should not be: are antidepressants effective in bipolar depression?; And: do antidepressants worsen the course of bipolar disorder? Rather, the question should be focused on subgroups: for which patients are antidepressants helpful and safe, and for which patients will they be harmful? Predictors of affective switching with antidepressants include: bipolar I disorder (vs. bipolar II), mixed features during depression, tricyclics vs. modern antidepressants, rapid cycling and possibly a history of drug abuse, especially stimulant abuse. Additionally, a number of recent studies have demonstrated both the safety and efficacy of antidepressant monotherapy in treating bipolar II depression. Finally, a subgroup of bipolar individuals need antidepressants in addition to mood stabilizers as part of an optimal maintenance treatment regimen.

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Metadata

Authors
Gitlin, M. J.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Gitlin, Michael J.
ORCID
Gitlin, Michael J.
Venue
International Journal of Bipolar Disorders
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-12
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
25-25
ISSN
2194-7511 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s40345-018-0133-9
PMC
PMC6269438
OpenAlex
W2895700889
Cited by
116
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8
FWCI
1.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Bipolar Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
International Society for Bipolar Disorders
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Keywords
antidepressants, bipolar depression, bipolar disorder, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, bipolar II depression, bipolar I disorder, mixed features, rapid cycling, stimulant abuse, antidepressant monotherapy, mood stabilizers, maintenance therapy

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