Medication use in children and adolescents treated in the community for bipolar disorder

• Published in: Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 515 - 522
• Main Authors: Bhangoo, Robinder K, Lowe, Catherine H, Myers, Frances S, Treland, Julia, Curran, Justin, Towbin, Kenneth E, Leibenluft, Ellen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mary Ann Liebert, Inc 01.12.2003
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Antimanic Agents - adverse effects; Antimanic Agents - therapeutic use; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy; Bipolar Disorder - epidemiology; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Child; Comorbidity; Data Collection; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Psychotropic drugs; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - adverse effects; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Teenagers; United States - epidemiology; United States
• ISSN: 1044-5463; 1557-8992
• DOI: 10.1089/104454603322724904

We assessed the use of mood stabilizers, stimulants, antipsychotic medication, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in children being treated in the community for bipolar disorder (BPD). One hundred eleven patients were screened via parent phone interview for possible inclusion in a phenomenological study of BPD. Data were obtained on the patients' medication trials and side effects. The results of the study indicated that children and adolescents who carry a diagnosis of BPD are treated with a mean of 3.40 +/- 1.48 medications and have had a mean of 6.32 +/- 3.67 trials of psychotropic medication in the past. Ninety-eight percent have had a trial of a mood stabilizer or anticonvulsant, with the most common being valproate (79%), lithium (51%), and gabapentin (29%).