Pharmacologic Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Through the Life Cycle

Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness associated with multiple relapses and recurrences throughout the life cycle. Lithium, carbamazepine, and valproate are the mainstays of treatment for this illness. Each of these agents will be reviewed as well as alternatives for patients who fail treatment with lithium, have manic agitation, psychosis, depression, rapid cycling, and mixed mania. Compliance issues will also be dis-cussed. Copyright © 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company BIPOLAR disorder, or manic depression,has been recognized for centuries, being described by both ancient Greeks and Romans. Hippocrates was actually the first to define the terms mania and melancholia. Early treatments to manage this disorder included bloodletting