Quetiapine in the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder

Abstract

Quetiapine could possibly be an effective treatment for rapid cycling bipolar patients. Adequate doses for acute episodes could significantly differ according to the episode polarity and the length of treatment.

Quetiapine as adjunctive treatment of a case of rapid‐cycling bipolar disorder with comorbidity

“…This case suggests that quetiapine may be a safe and effective add-on medication in rapid cycling bipolar disorder, confirming a growing body of literature (Vieta et al, 2002). The combination of bipolar disorder and OCD is not rare, and these patients pose a difficult clinical situation, because some treatments may improve their mood but worsen OCD, and viceversa.…”

Quetiapine Prevents Anhedonia Induced by Acute or Chronic Stress

“…In addition, QTP has partial agonist activity at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Recent studies have demonstrated that this atypical antipsychotic may be effective in the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with psychotic and mood disorders, including bipolar disorder I and II (Altamura et al, 2003;Ertugrul and Meltzer, 2003;Calabrese et al, 2005) and rapid cycling bipolar disorder (Vieta et al, 2002). The effectiveness of QTP in reverting depressive symptoms might be of particular interest because the presence of depression, more than positive and negative symptoms, markedly impairs the quality of life of schizophrenic patients during the stable period of the disease.…”

Bipolar affective disorders: the specific features of the course and maintenance pharmacotherapy

“…В отличие от большинства других препаратов, эффек-тивность которых при профилактике рецидивов у пациен-тов с быстроциклическими вариантами БАР не изучена, до-казано положительное влияние кветиапина на увеличение продолжительности ремиссии, а также «сглаживание остро-ты состояния» [99]. В 2002 г. Американская ассоциация пси-хиатров признала комбинации соли лития + кветиапин или вальпроат + кветиапин средствами первой линии терапии БАР, в том числе быстроциклических вариантов [100].…”