By Elizabeth Commons

Some believe treating mental illnesses using medicines is a good way to treat patients especially those with bipolar mood disorder.

Others believe that it is wrong to rely completely on medications.

I have reviewed 10 articles that discuss Psychopharmacology in some way for bipolar mood disorder.

Is the use of medications for treating Psychological Disorders

Became a hot topic a little more than 2 decades ago (Kaut, 2011).

There are many benefits from treating mental illnesses using medication

Much research goes into the Psychpharmacology

This is one of the most popular medications used to treat Bipolar Disorder.

Does have it’s pros and cons. Like all medications, the right dosage is key. Has been linked to stress. Is sometimes mixed with other medications

to best treat patients.

Combined with lithium and similar medications to use for Bipolar disorder

Used to create mood stabilizers.

Also used to treat bipolar disorder. Is thought to actually induce mood

instability. About a third of patients using (Koszewska &

Rybakowski, 2009). Antidepressants report mood conversions

from one side to the other (Koszewska & Rybakowski, 2009).

Another form of treatment for those with bipolar disorder

Can be used alone or with lithium There are many forms of the medication

The phenomenon that occurs when one becomes tolerant of one’s medications after taking if for an extended period of time(Amsterdam & Shults, 2009).

One thing researchers look at when creating a new treatment.

Does the benefits outweigh the cost of production?

If something is expensive, it better do a fantastic job at treating the patient!

Kaut, K. P. (2011). Psychopharmacology and mental health practice: an important alliance. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 33(3), 196-222.

Koszewska, I., & Rybakowski, J.K. (2009). Antidepressant-induced mood conversions in bipolar disorder: a retrospective study of tricyclic versus non-tricyclic antidepressant drugs. Neuropsychobiology 59(1), 12-16.

Tanious, M., & Malhi, G.S. (2011). Optimal frequency of lithium administration in the treatment of bipolar disorder. CNS Drugs 25(4), 289-298.

Woodward, T.C., Tafesse, E., Quon, P., & Lazarus, A. (2010). Cost effectiveness of adjunctive quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets with mood stabilizers in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder. PharmacoEconomics 28(9), 751-764.

Johnson, S.A., Wang, S. –F., Sun, X., McEwen, B.S., Chattarji, S., & Young, L.T. (2009). Lithium treatment prevents stress-induced dendritic remodeling in the rodent amygdala. Neuroscience 163 (1), 34-39.

Amsterdam, J.D., & Shults, J. (2009). Does tachyphylaxis occur after repeated antidepressant exposure in patients with bipolar II major depressive episode? Journal of Affective Disorders 115(1-2), 234-240.

Altamura, A.C., Mundo, E., Dell’Osso, B., Tacchini, G., Buoli, M., & Calabrese, J.R. (2008). Quetiapine and classical mood stabilizers in the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder: a 4-year follow-up naturalistic study. Journal of Affective Disorders 110 (1-2), 135-141.

Popovic, D., Reinares, M., Goikolea, J.M., Bonnin, C.M., Gonzalez-Pinto, A., & Vieta, E. (2011). Polarity index of pharmacological agents used for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. European Neuropsychopharmacology.

Vieta, E., Suppes, T., Eggens, I., Persson, I., Paulsson, B., Brecher, M., and trial 126 study investigators. (2008). Efficacy and safety of quetiapine in combination with lithium or divalproex for maintenance of patients with bipolar I disorder (international trial 126). Journal of Affective Disorders 109(3), 251-263.

Deeks, E.D. (2010). Risperidone long-acting injection: in bipolar I disorder. Drugs 70 (8), 1001-1012.