Antidepressants 'not effective for bipolar depression'

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http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=35 & storycode=4127599 & c=2

Antidepressants 'not effective for bipolar depression'

05 Nov 10

By Lilian Anekwe

Antidepressants are not effective treatments for bipolar

disorder, a systematic review and meta-analysis has concluded.

The role of antidepressants in this condition is controversial.

Meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials have concluded they

are effective and safe in these patients for bipolar depression.

But subsequent prospective trials have suggested they may not less

beneficial than previously thought.

US researchers analysed 15 of the latest trials - published from

2003 to 2009 - comparing courses of antidepressant treatment of

less than 16 weeks duration with a placebo or other comparator in

2,373 patients with bipolar disorder.

Antidepressants were not statistically

superior to placebo or other current standard treatment, the

authors concluded.

Study leader Dr Sidor, a psychiatrist at the

Southwestern Medical Center at the University of Texas, wrote:

‘Although antidepressants were found to be safe for acute

treatment of bipolar depression, their lack of efficacy may limit

their clinical utility.’

J

Clin Psychiatry, online 5 October