Bipolar Depression: APA Guidelines Executive Summary

1
Bipolar Depression APA Guidelines Executive
Summary

• First-line for new episodes
• Lithium or lamotrigine
• In more severely ill patient, consider lithium
  plus antidepressant
• Consider ECT if life-threatening inanition,
  suicidality, psychosis
• Breakthrough episodes
• Optimize primary agent
• Add lamotrigine, bupropion, or paroxetine
• Alternatives another SSRI, venlafaxine, or MAOI

American Psychiatric Association. Practice
Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with
Bipolar Disorder. 2nd ed. Washington, DC 2002.