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Evidence‐based treatment strategies for treatment‐resistant bipolar depression: a systematic review
Author(s) -
Sienaert Pascal,
Lambrichts Lore,
Dols Annemiek,
De Fruyt Jürgen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1111/bdi.12026
Subject(s) - bipolar disorder , psychiatry , depression (economics) , lamotrigine , treatment resistant depression , pramipexole , randomized controlled trial , psychology , medicine , electroconvulsive therapy , medline , systematic review , risperidone , lithium (medication) , mood , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , major depressive disorder , parkinson's disease , disease , political science , law , economics , epilepsy , macroeconomics
Sienaert P, Lambrichts L, Dols A, De Fruyt J.
Evidence‐based treatment strategies for treatment‐resistant bipolar depression: a systematic review.
Bipolar Disord 2012: 00: 000–000. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Objectives: Treatment resistance in bipolar depression is a common clinical problem that constitutes a major challenge for the treating clinician as there is a paucity of treatment options. The objective of this paper was to review the evidence for treatment options in treatment‐resistant bipolar depression, as found in randomized controlled trials and with special attention to the definition and assessment of treatment resistance. Methods: A Medline search (from database inception to May 2012) was performed using the search terms treatment resistance or treatment refractory, and bipolar depression or bipolar disorder, supplemented with 43 separate searches using the various pharmacologic agents or technical interventions as search terms. Results: Only seven studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies examined the effects of ketamine (n = 1), (ar)modafinil (n = 2), pramipexole (n = 1), lamotrigine (n = 1), inositol (n = 1), risperidone (n = 1), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (n = 2). Conclusions: The available level I evidence for treatment strategies in resistant bipolar depression is extremely scarce, and although the response rates reported are reassuring, most of the strategies remain experimental. There is an urgent need for further study in homogeneous patient samples using a clear concept of treatment resistance.