4.44 a literature review on ssri use in combination with mood stabilizers or antipsychotics for pediatric bipolar depression

It is crucial to appropriately treat pediatric bipolar disorder to improve quality of life and to reduce future risks, including the risk of suicides. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic drugs remain major treatment strategies. The manic or hypomanic switch in patients who are initially suspected to have unipolar depression and are treated with SSRI is a known phenomenon. Although antidepressants, including SSRIs as a standalone medication, have no evidence for bipolar disorder treatment, it is important to recognize what is known about the combination use of an SSRI with a mood stabilizer or an antipsychotic drug.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research