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The Association for Youth, Children and Natural Psychology is a non-profit New Jersey corporation.
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| Page last updated: July 9, 2009 |
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Antidepressants and bipolar disorder
Antidepressants alone are not effective in treating bipolar disorder, and studies have indicated that antidepressants combined with mood stabilizing drugs are not more effective in improving symptoms of bipolar disorder than mood stabilizing drugs alone. (Sachs, G., March 28, 2007. The New England Journal of Medicine) (Burgess, W., 2006. p.111.) Also, it is possible that antidepressants actually can make matters worse in terms of bipolar disorder.
"I try not to prescribe my bipolar patients medicines in the antidepressant class because they may not help bipolar depression. If anything antidepressants can worsen bipolar depression or trigger mania and psychosis. In fact, if you look in the most common physicians' reference, the Physicians' Desk Reference,( PDR), you will find a warning about triggering mania or worsening bipolar disorder in the documentation for most antidepressants." (Ibid)
(Studies indicate that antidepressants increase likelihood of suicidal thoughts in children, teens, and also adults from the ages of 18-24. Hence, there are black box warnings on antidepressants concerning increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Antidepressants doubles risk of suicidal thoughts from 2% to 4%).
Bipolar Disorder Overdiagnosed reafirms a recent study by Zimmerman, associate professor of psychiatry at Rhode Island University.
Resources:
Bipolar Self Help
(off-site)
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