Citation

Cerullo MA, Strakowski SM. Current Psychosis and Therapeutics Reports 2006; 4(4): 171-175.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006)

DOI

10.1007/BF02629392

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) commonly co-occur during the course of bipolar type I disorder, and they can negatively affect illness outcome. This paper reviews recent research examining SUDs in bipolar disorder. These studies confirmed the high prevalence rate of SUDs but found that they are less common in younger patients (< age 17 years). Two new longitudinal studies suggest that a co-occurring SUD worsens the prognosis of bipolar disorder and leads to more affective symptoms and suicide attempts. Two new studies have examined the treatment of bipolar patients with a comorbid SUD. These studies suggest that valproate (as an adjunct to lithium) and aripiprazole may be useful in the treatment of the affective symptoms of bipolar patients with a comorbid SUD and may also help with the treatment of the SUD. Copyright © 2006 by Current Science Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

human; prognosis; alcoholism; prevalence; suicide attempt; lithium; clinical trial; treatment outcome; comorbidity; review; substance abuse; alcohol abuse; disease course; placebo; cannabis addiction; patient compliance; valproic acid; bipolar I disorder; bipolar II disorder; cocaine dependence; aripiprazole; outcome assessment