Efficacy of Olanzapine for Treating Depressive Episodes in Bipolar Disorder

• Published in: Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology and Therapeutics Vol. 5; pp. 11 - 17
• Main Author: Kirino, Eiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology 2014
• Subjects: bipolar depression; bipolar disorder; Bipolar Version (CGI-BP); Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness; depressive episode; Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); olanzapine
• ISSN: 1884-8826; 1884-8826
• DOI: 10.5234/cnpt.5.11

Purpose: We administered olanzapine to 24 outpatients with bipolar disorder who had experienced a depressive or mixed episode as their most recent episode to evaluate the efficacy and safety of olanzapine in clinical practice. Methods: The duration of study treatment was 8 weeks. Symptoms in each subject were assessed using the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness, Bipolar Version (CGI-BP) at the start of treatment with olanzapine and at Week 4 and Week 8 of treatment. Results: A total of 17 subjects underwent the assessments at Week 4, and 13 subjects completed the 8-week treatment regimen and the assessments at Week 8. The mean total score and each individual item score of the MADRS were significantly improved at Week 4 and Week 8 compared to those at the start of treatment. The mean CGI-BP Depression and CGI-BP Overall scores were significantly improved at Week 4 and Week 8, while the mean CGI-BP Mania score was not significantly different at Week 4 or Week 8 compared to that at the start of treatment. Adverse drug reactions were reported in 3 subjects during the study: hyperphagia in 2 subjects and light-headed feeling in 1 subject. No manic switches were observed. Discussion: The results of this study confirmed the efficacy and safety of olanzapine in outpatients with bipolar depression in clinical practice.