Antidepressant‐associated mania in late life

Abstract

These preliminary findings invite further investigation. Related studies may contribute to risk-benefit analyses for the use of particular antidepressants in the elderly. Also, first episode mania in late life may prove to be a useful model of vulnerability to AAM.

The prevalence of late‐life mania: a review

“…In the six studies reviewed, the patients with bipolar disorder with late‐life mania were predominantly female. Conflicting results were obtained in these samples for the relationship between index age and a family history of mood disorder, with one study reporting no relationship , another reporting a positive family history in 37.5% of patients with late‐life mania , and another reporting a significantly earlier age of onset in patients with a positive family history . One study reported that 42.9% of patients with late‐life mania showed psychotic features .…”

“…In identifying the prevalence of mania in elderly inpatients with bipolar disorder, a total of six studies reporting on 247 individuals were reviewed . Only one study reported on the prevalence of late‐life mania (50%) in elderly inpatients with bipolar disorder .…”

“…Only one study reported on the prevalence of late‐life mania (50%) in elderly inpatients with bipolar disorder . The percentage of patients with bipolar disorder with late‐onset mania ranged from 28% to 43.9% and 53% . The mean prevalence of late‐onset mania in patients with bipolar disorder was 44.2% (95% CI: 37.3–51.1%).…”

Evidence-Based Pharmacological Treatment of Geriatric Bipolar Disorder

“…In elderly patients, ''switching'' to mania during pharmacotherapy with tricyclic and other antidepressant agents can occur [109,110]. Comparisons of treatment-emergent mania related to alternative antidepressants in the elderly are needed.…”

Effect of antidepressant use on admissions to hospital among elderly bipolar patients

“…Young et al (2003) identified 'likely' antidepressantassociated mania in 11 out of 57 elderly patients admitted for mania prior to 1990, with most of these patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants. There have been no studies of the SSRIs or other newer antidepressants in elderly bipolar patients, and no studies have examined the effects of antidepressant use on hospitalization rates among a large group of elderly bipolar patients.…”