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The Carlat Psychiatry Report

Bipolar Disorder (January) | 2011

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Using Lithium in Bipolar Disorder: A Primer

January 1, 2011

Currently, lithium is FDA approved for both acute mania and for maintenance bipolar treatment, but not for bipolar depression. Lithium is dirt-cheap and the size of its database for efficacy in bipolar disorder is unmatched by any other medication, although many of these studies are old. Read More

Discussing Bipolar Disorder with Your Patients

January 1, 2011

In my experience, there are five common reactions from patients with a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and here are some suggestions for how to respond constructively. Read More

Distinguishing Bipolar from Unipolar Depression

January 1, 2011

Ross Baldessarini, MD

Some patients complain bitterly about depression and dysphoria, but they don’t tell you anything about the other half of their lives—the upswings of mood and energy—so you may not realize the need to suspect bipolar illness. Read More

Vascular Depression? Not so Fast.

January 1, 2011

More than a decade ago, researchers introduced the concept of “vascular depression,” a specific type of depression associated with cerebrovascular disease and loss of blood to the brain in older adults. Read More

Adjunctive Nuvigil Possibly Effective for Bipolar Depression

January 1, 2011

The treatment of bipolar depression remains challenging. Only two medications are FDA approved for the condition—quetiapine (Seroquel) and olanzapine (Zyprexa)/fluoxetine (Prozac) combination—both of which cause weight gain and sedation, among other side effects. Read More